Sexual assault trial continues for former Kitchener neurologist

The former neurologist accused of sexually assaulting his female patients was back in court Monday, more than four years after his trial first began in Kitchener.

Jeffrey Scott Sloka has been charged with 50 counts of sexual assault. The alleged incidents took place between 2010 and 2017. All the complainants were patients at Sloka’s private neurology practice located in the Kaufman Building at Waterloo Regional Health Network @ Midtown (which was then called Grand River Hospital).

Sloka’s trial began in September 2021.

Some of his former patients testified that they sought help from Sloka for neurological concerns. They also described receiving breast and vaginal exams during their appointments. Some of the women described being examined by Sloka while not properly draped or completely naked.

• TIMELINE: Kitchener neurologist faces 50 counts of sexual assault

Sloka also took the stand, over several weeks, to defend his actions. He testified that there were medical reasons for the exams he performed on the women.

The evidence portion of the trial ended in October 2023. Since then, lawyers on both sides have provided hundreds of pages of written submissions which had to be reviewed by Justice Craig Parry, who is presiding over the case.

On Monday, lawyers began making their oral arguments and addressed specific questions raised by Justice Parry.

One of Sloka’s lawyers, Jill Makepeace, was first to speak. She laid out the defence’s argument that, if the Crown has not established there was a sexual purpose or motive behind Sloka’s actions, he must be acquitted on all counts.

The defence argued that there were medical purposes for Sloka’s conduct.

This case is considered one of, if not the largest, sexual assault trials in Ontario.

CTV’s Krista Simpson is in the courtroom and will have more on the trial as it develops.