University of British Columbia professor testifies in Galloway defamation trial

Annabel Lyon, director of the University of British Columbia school of creative writing, has provided testimony in a defamation trial involving author and former professor Steven Galloway. Galloway has filed a lawsuit alleging that a former student and others defamed him through unproven allegations of sexual and physical assault, claims which he denies.

Lyon testified that the student, identified as A. B. due to a publication ban, provided a statement to the RCMP but later retracted it because she feared police would contact Galloway. Lyon also stated that she personally developed new policies regarding master's thesis completions after she regretfully signed off on an incomplete thesis submitted by the student in 2015.

During the proceedings, Lyon noted that while she felt uncomfortable signing off on the 144-page novel portion submitted by the student, she deferred to a more senior colleague. Faculty members reportedly met in November 2015 to discuss the allegations after they were relayed to a professor.