Amy Hamm: Galloway accuser allowed to graduate from UBC without thesis - National Post

Copy URL Facebook Linked In X (Twitter) Loading account options Sign In Manage Account Close account menu Sign Out Steven Galloway walks out of BC Supreme Court in Vancouver, B.C., October 5, 2026. (Arlen Redekop / PNG) By Amy Hamm November 4, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. Last Updated: November 4, 2026 at 10:40 a.m. Steven Galloway’s accuser, known as A.B. due to a publication ban, was allowed to graduate from the University of British Columbia (UBC) creative writing program despite never completing a thesis.

This is according to testimony given by UBC creative writing professor and director Annabel Lyon at Galloway’s defamation trial in B.C. Supreme Court Tuesday. Lyon said she “signed off” on A.B.’s incomplete thesis when pressured by fellow professor Keith Maillard. Lyon and Maillard are both former defendants who settled with Galloway ahead of trial. Maillard retired from UBC in 2025.

Regarding her decision to allow A.B. to graduate without a thesis, Lyon told the court that she “squared it with (her) conscience” by promising A.B. that she would read a future thesis at any time.

“I regret this very much,” she told the court.

Lyon was called as the first witness in A.B.’s defence.

The defence’s examination of the professor focused on what role they allege UBC played in advancing A.B.’s allegations, while Galloway’s cross examination focused on the ways in which they allege A.B. attempted to have UBC officials act on her behalf. A.B.’s legal team described in their opening statement that they intend to argue that their client was “not instrumental” in directing UBC’s response to her rape allegations, which, if successful, may lessen any damages awarded against her.

Lyon testified that she has known Galloway since 1998, when she audited a creative writing class at UBC in which Galloway was a student. She said that their families became friends and she used to often say that she “thought of (Galloway) as an annoying little brother.”

As per Galloway, he and A.B. had a consensual affair from 2011 to 2013. They were both married at the time. A.B.’s unproven sexual assault allegations against Galloway went public in November 2015. Galloway was fired as UBC creative writing professor and program chair in June 2016. Retired judge Mary Ellen Boyd, hired by UBC to independently investigate the allegations, found, on a balance of probabilities, that no sexual assault had occurred and that the claims were unsubstantiated.

Lyon testified that she learned of A.B.’s allegations against Galloway in a Nov. 2015 phone call from Maillard. She said she agreed to attend a faculty meeting that was held at another professor’s home the following day. This is the same faculty meeting that other witnesses have testified about extensively during the trial. As per Lyon, Maillard also told her that A.B. told him that she had at one point filed an RCMP report against Galloway — but later retracted it out of fear that police would contact him.

Lyon told the court that she first spoke to A.B. about her allegations over the phone the following day, when a crying A.B. called her and described having experienced “a period of sustained abuse” with Galloway. “She really objected to the term ‘relationship,’” said Lyon.

Lyon said she agreed to share materials provided by A.B. at the faculty meeting later that day. These materials included a written statement by A.B. claiming that a CBC legal team had vetted her allegations and found them “damning,” and wanted to feature her story in a Fifth Estate documentary (CBC journalist Ronna Syed previously testified that this never happened), plus voicemails Galloway left on A.B.’s phone. Lyon testified that she also told her colleagues at the faculty meeting that A.B. would go public with her allegations if no action was taken by UBC.

Later, under cross examination by Galloway lawyer Daniel Burnett, Lyon said that she can’t recall whether she threatened to resign from her position if Galloway wasn’t immediately suspended. She admitted that she was “very angry” and used the phrase “get Steve out” during the meeting. Lyon said she meant this as in “getting (Galloway) out of the hallway pending an investigation, so it would feel like a safe space” for others to come forward “if they had something to say.”

Lyon also testified regarding her Nov. 2015 decision to notify police about Galloway’s alleged suicidality, while he was travelling in Ohio for a public speaking engagement. During the trip, Galloway was contacted by the UBC dean of arts and asked to voluntarily remain off campus due to A.B.’s allegation of sexual assault. Galloway then called Lyon. She testified that she believed Galloway was suicidal despite telling her that he was “too much of a coward” to end his life.

During her examination, Lyon directly addressed Justice Neena Sharma and asked for permission to make a statement about the police call incident. She then told the court that she believes the incident has been “massively twisted and misunderstood” and that it “hurts (her) to her core” that her call to police isn’t seen as “an act of care.”

Under cross examination, Burnett presented the Ohio police report regarding the incident to Lyon. Burnett showed that there was no mention of Lyon telling police that Galloway had said he was too cowardly to commit suicide. Additionally, Burnett described, the police report recorded Lyon as having advised them “that Steven Galloway could be very manipulative in order to get what he wants.” Lyon testified that she did tell police that Galloway was manipulative, but maintains that it was part of “an act of care.” Police showed up at Galloway’s hotel and placed him on a 72-hour psychiatric hold.

Portions of Lyon’s testimony were given in voir dire (trial within a trial) hearings and cannot be shared until Justice Sharma rules on the admissibility of the evidence given. Sharma suggested using a publication ban to cover these portions of testimony, but Burnett told the court that Galloway prefers that the details go on public record.

Sharma will rule about the admissibility of this evidence at a later date.

Like she did on Monday, Sharma again raised her voice at defence during the proceedings. This occurred when Gomez began to question Lyon about her impression of when Galloway’s relationship with his second wife, Katie Wagner, began. Gomez suggested that defence might argue that Lyon’s testimony on this goes to the credibility of Galloway and Wagner.

Sharma appeared incredulous as she laughed and raised her eyebrows. She then asked Lyon to step outside the courtroom so the parties could discuss the matter.

“Tell me how this relates to whether A.B. made defamatory statements about whether Galloway raped her,” Sharma said. She then instructed defence to come back after lunch and take her through evidence of how this would help her or why she should make a finding on it. She said that defence appeared to be making attempts to generally characterize Galloway as a “bad guy.”

“I’m going to suggest to you with the greatest respect that this is nothing more than: ‘Let’s show how he was a bad guy at the university,’” said Sharma. “And I’m telling you I can’t possibly see how that’s relevant.”

Gomez dropped the issue entirely after the lunch break.

Lyon is expected to complete her cross examination testimony Wednesday.

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