The jury deliberation begins in the lawsuit against chiropractor Regina

The sexual abuse case against Regina chiropractor Ruben Manz entered its final stages at Court of King’s Bench on Friday.

Judge Janet McMurtry gave directions to a jury of 12, who were deliberating early Friday afternoon.

Manz, 49, is accused of sexually assaulting seven women who were his patients over the course of a decade, between 2010 and 2020. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

During the nearly four-week trial, which began Nov. 4, the jury heard from Manz, who testified in his own defense, and the women who accused him of assaulting them.

Under examination by Crown prosecutor Jackie Lane, each of the seven women testified that Manz would reach under their bra and touch their breasts while craning their necks.

During closing arguments, Lane argued that Manz had access to the women as a trusted medical caregiver, and violated that trust by touching them sexually without their consent and for no legitimate medical purpose.

Attorney Kathy Hodgson-Smith argued in her closing statement that Manz is a family man who loved his job and always conducted himself appropriately as a chiropractor. Hodgson-Smith pointed to Manz’s willingness to break down details of the witnesses’ medical reports during his testimony.

Manz was asked several times to define the terminology and explain to the court the process of a regular chiropractic appointment. The defense has argued that the type of neck stretch Manz performed is part of legitimate chiropractic treatment, and that he performed the stretch properly and did not intentionally touch the witnesses’ breasts for sexual reasons.

Another chiropractor called in as an expert witness for the defense earlier this week said Manz followed the industry standard of care regarding consent, diagnosis, treatment and record keeping.

“It was all legitimate chiropractic treatment,” Hodgson-Smith told the jury on Wednesday.

Hodgson-Smith also said Manz remained consistent under cross-examination, with no contradictions.

The defense also called the seven accusers “unreliable” and said their accounts of what happened had been influenced by the police officer who led the case.

Crown attorneys disputed that characterization, describing each of the witnesses as courageous for choosing to share their testimonies.

A prosecutor asked the jury if they wanted to live in a world where sexual violence would go without consequences.