Swiss man pleads guilty to assaulting woman at anti-war protest in Ottawa
David Mikha'El Henschel is expected to be sentenced Nov. 24 following submissions from Crown, defence
A Swiss man has pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman at an anti-war, pro-Palestinian demonstration in Ottawa during the 2024 CANSEC conference, a defence industry showcase hosted by the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI).
David Henschel was released and returned to Switzerland, where he resides, the day after his arrest. He appeared in court virtually Thursday morning from Indonesia.
According to court documents, he is an employee of Rheinmetall Waffe Munition Schweiz AG (RWMSchweiz AG), an ammunition manufacturer.
An agreed statement of facts filed with the court and read by the Crown Thursday morning details Henschel's actions on the day of the incident. A video of the interaction that was shared on social media was also entered as evidence Thursday morning.
While leaving the parking lot of the Hilton Garden Inn on May 29, 2024, Henschel was walking with a woman to attend the CANSEC conference at the nearby EY Centre when he passed a protester and said "Shalom," a common Hebrew salutation meaning "peace."
The protester told Henschel, "Free, free, free Palestine!" and asked to be punched, according to the agreed statement of facts.
As Henschel continued walking toward the conference centre, he told protesters he was "racist and proud."
A 21-year-old woman wearing a hijab approached Henschel, but according to court records she did not at any point come into contact with him. Henschel then swung his arm and intentionally struck the woman in the face with a closed fist.
Henschel then pushed another protester before a small skirmish ensued and he was arrested by police.
After his arrest, Henschel admitted to striking the woman and told officers, "I am sorry about any inconvenience," and, "I do apologize for any problems caused or anything like that."
Henschel paid a $5,000 cash deposit following his arrest. He is expected to be sentenced following submissions on Nov. 24.
It's expected Crown prosecutors will read statements from the victim and other community members at that time.
Henschel's defence lawyer, James Foord, said he's limited in what he can say about the case, but noted this is "a very difficult situation for everyone involved," heightened by global events.
He said his client is a good person and that his submissions will provide more insight into Henschel's character.