Austro-Canadian billionaire Frank Stronach is facing a sexual assault trial this week in Toronto that will be decided solely by a judge.
Stronach, the 93 year-old founder of an international automotive parts company and one of Canada's richest men, has been charged in relation to more than a dozen historical sexual assault allegations that span nearly a half-century.
Prosecutors have split his case into two separate proceedings, with the Toronto trial set to begin first on Tuesday. A second trial in nearby York Region is scheduled for the spring.
Stronach has pleaded not guilty to the 12 Toronto charges, and has denied all of the allegations against him.
He faces a total of 18 offences involving 13 complainants, according to prosecutors.
