The defense presented its closing arguments to a jury in the case of a Regina chiropractor accused of sexual assault Wednesday afternoon.

Ruben Manz faces a total of seven counts of sexual assault. He was first arrested in April 2021 after two former clients came forward, claiming they were subjected to “inappropriate and unwanted actions” during their chiropractic treatments.

The other customers came forward after his arrest.

The alleged incidents took place over a decade.

During the nearly four-week trial, all seven plaintiffs and defendants took the stand to testify. Both the Crown and the defense each called expert witnesses.

Credibility challenged

Defense lawyer Kathy Hodgson-Smith challenged the credibility of the alleged victims’ testimonies as part of her closing remarks, often calling each’s memory “poor”.

“What (they) are saying (is) making no sense,” the lawyer said. “And it is contradicted.”

Hodgson-Smith often highlighted Manz’s time in the stands, calling her “consistent”.

“(Manz) was a chiropractor doing his job,” she said. “His treatment was within the standard of care. It was adequate treatment. the PNF stretch was medically indicated.”

“Why would he throw away his dream of being a chiropractor that he’s had – since he was four years old. Why would he throw his and his wife’s wellness clinic, his life’s work, out the window to touch a breast,” Hodgson-Smith continued.

The defense likened this case to a bowl of thousands of beads. Beads representing every patient Manz has ever treated in his two decades as a chiropractor.

Through her argument, she would file a motion to remove each of the plaintiffs’ cases from the imaginary bowl.

“There are seven beads on the table that appear to be independent,” Hodgson-Smith said.

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But as her observations continued, she moved to string the beads. Manz’s deposition testimony stood, while plaintiffs did not.

“We conveniently take a needle and put that needle through the (beads) that string these people (together),” Hodgson-Smith described.

The road map for the verdict perceived by the defense

The defense then gave the jury an outline of how they might reach a not-guilty verdict, asking them to consider three questions for each charge Manz faces.

First, did he touch her breast?

And if the answer to the question is “Yes”, to move on to a second question. Did he intentionally touch her breast?

And if the answer to that question was also “Yes,” they can move on to the third question. Did he touch her breast in circumstances of a sexual nature?

If the answer to all three questions is “Yes,” then the jury can find Manz guilty.

But if the answer was ever “No,” then the jury would have to find Manz not guilty.

Postponed procedure

Proceedings were further delayed on Wednesday after the defense took more than two hours to go through closing arguments.

Because the court could not hold the jury after 4:30 p.m., Judge Janey McMutry was forced to interrupt Hodgson-Smith’s remarks before she finished her full argument.

The defense will be allowed to finish their closing statements on Thursday afternoon, before the Crown presents its closing arguments later.

Judge McMutry was then to give final instructions to the jury and sequester them for their verdict.

Due to the delay, the jury will be sequestered starting Friday morning.

Thirteen jurors heard the case during the nearly four weeks of proceedings. Before being sequestered, one member will be randomly selected to be eliminated and 12 will make that decision.

They must reach a unanimous verdict on each charge before being released.