Decision likely this week in triple sex-assault trial

A decision is expected later this week in the sexual assault trial of a man accused of raping three women seeking work at his small-engine repair shop.

Merik Stanley Bereznicki has pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual assault.

During his week long trial, court heard from three women who each testified they had responded to an advertisement for an administrative assistant.

The women all initially met 49-year-old Bereznicki at his repair shop.

All of them testified he sexually assaulted them at his home office in the hours and days after their job interviews.

One witness told court she worked for Bereznicki for a week after being hired on the spot during her interview.

On her last day of work, she accompanied him to his home office to help with his taxes.

She said Bereznicki was insistent she drink with him and after accepting one of the drinks, “everything went black” and she woke up naked in his bed.

Another witness, then an 18-year-old high school student, testified Bereznicki physically forced her to have sex the same day they met for the job interview.

That woman also said that Bereznicki was insistent that she drink with him in his home office.

The third woman said she was assaulted in that home office when she accepted a social invitation to the home a week after she interviewed for a job with Bereznicki. That woman said she was sure Bereznicki had drugged her with a drink before she was assaulted.

The Crown and defence made their closing arguments in the case Wednesday.