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Trial of Former Hockey Players in Sexual Assault Case Commences
An Ontario court recently commenced the trial involving five former players from Canada’s world junior hockey team, accused of sexual assault. The case has attracted considerable public and media attention.
Opening arguments were initiated on Wednesday. However, proceedings were cut short as Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia informed the court of an incident that required consultation with lawyers, resulting in an early dismissal of jurors.
Due to legal protocols, discussions held when jurors are absent remain confidential until they are sequestered for deliberation.
The Crown was in the midst of presenting its case against Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Cal Foote, and Alex Formenton when the trial took an unexpected pause. The group is facing charges linked to an alleged sexual assault that reportedly took place in London following a Hockey Canada gala event in 2018. Notably, McLeod is also charged as a party to the alleged assault.
All five players entered not-guilty pleas during the arraignment on Tuesday.
This scandal first gained traction in May 2022 when it was revealed that Hockey Canada had settled a civil lawsuit with the complainant involved in the alleged incident.
This revelation ignited a series of consequences, leading to widespread criticism of Hockey Canada and ultimately forcing the resignation of the entire board and senior management. The London police, which had previously closed the investigation in 2019 without laying charges, opted to reopen the case three years later, culminating in the current charges.
In February 2024, Chief Thai Truong publicly apologized to the alleged victim, emphasizing that the protracted timeline for legal resolution was unacceptable. He and other law enforcement officials refrained from offering further details, citing the ongoing nature of the case.
A court order currently restricts the disclosure of any information that might reveal the identity of the complainant, whose account of the events from 2018 will be critical during the trial. The proceedings are anticipated to extend over a duration of approximately eight weeks.
— with files from The Canadian Press
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