Jian Ghomeshi spent days at friend’s cottage after allegations arose

TORONTO – Jian Ghomeshi spent a few days at his friends cottage last month after allegations arose he had sexually and physically assaulted women.

The former CBC radio host surrendered to Toronto Police Wednesday and was subsequently charged with four counts of sexual assault and one charge of overcoming resistance – choking.

After his bail hearing Wednesday afternoon it was revealed that Ghomeshi spent at least part of the time since the allegations arose in Ontario. A report by the Toronto Star revealed he laid low at a Minden-area cottage owned by Toronto entertainment producer and agent Jeffrey Latimer.

READ MORE: How likely is Jian Ghomeshi to be convicted of sexual assault?

Latimer told the Star he thought helping out a friend in need was the “right thing to do.”

“He explained to me that this is a personal situation and that he needed a break and so I said, ‘I have a cottage.’”

He issued a statement to Global News Thursday to clarify the details behind why he allowed Ghomeshi to stay there and what happened next:

“For the record, I was not aware of the allegations against Jian Ghomeshi when I granted him access to my cottage,” Latimer said in the statement.

“At that time, Jian explained his upcoming Facebook post and that he needed a place to get away, for a break from the personal situation. Once the news broke, I asked Jian to leave. I checked in at the cottage a few days later and he was gone. Since then, I have not had any contact with him whatsoever.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "At that time, Jian explained his upcoming Facebook post and that he needed a place to get away, for a break from the personal situation. Once the news broke, I asked Jian to leave. I checked in at the cottage a few days later and he was gone. Since then, I have not had any contact with him whatsoever."

Global News called several businesses in the area of the Latimer family cottage, but none of the staff or officials at those establishments reported seeing Ghomeshi or even hearing that he had been there.

READ MORE: Timeline – Sex assault allegations arise after CBC fires Jian Ghomeshi

Ghomeshi’s lawyer, Marie Heinen, told reporters after his bail hearing Wednesday that he plans to plead not guilty to all charges. Ghomeshi did not speak to the media Wednesday but maintained his innocence in two Facebook posts last month. In those posts, he said all of his encounters with women were consensual and he plans to meet these allegations directly.