Alleged Sexual Assault Trial: Complainant's Text Messages Under Scrutiny

Complainant E.M., testifying in the trial of five former members of Canada's 2018 world junior hockey team, is facing intense cross-examination over her failure to disclose a alleged sexual assault in text messages to her best friend the next day. The defense is suggesting that E.M.'s actions and conversations with her friend indicate she did not perceive the incident as a sexual assault, rather a regrettable encounter. E.M. has maintained she was not yet ready to discuss the incident with her friend, but the defense argues that her words and behavior suggest otherwise.

Key Takeaways:

• Complainant E.M. texted her best friend hours after the alleged assault, but did not disclose any information about the incident.
• E.M.'s friend asked if she was okay, and E.M. replied that she was fine, suggesting she did not perceive the incident as a traumatic event.
• E.M. expressed guilt about cheating on her boyfriend and feeling "dirty and used" but did not mention a sexual assault.
• Defense lawyer Lisa Carnelos pointed out that E.M. did not use the phrase "sexual assault" in her text messages to her friend.
• Crown attorney Meaghan Cunningham objected to Carnelos' line of questioning, which was focused on suggesting E.M. did not perceive the incident as a sexual assault.
• E.M. later told her best friend in a text that she had been to the police station about the "situation that happened Monday night," but did not disclose details about the assault.
• Defense lawyer Daniel Brown challenged E.M.'s testimony about her interactions with defendant Alex Formenton, suggesting that she had initiated contact and was not a victim of assault.
• Brown also challenged E.M.'s statements about not having had a conversation before the sexual activity, suggesting that she and Formenton had discussed using a condom.
• E.M. confirmed that she had been on birth control at the time of the alleged assault.

Statistics:

• The alleged assault occurred on June 19, 2018.
• E.M. texted her friend hours after the alleged assault but did not disclose any details.
• E.M. later told her best friend in a text that she had been to the police station about the "situation that happened Monday night."
• Three days after the alleged assault, E.M. told her best friend about a potential toxicology screening.
• The players accused of sexual assault are Michael McLeod, Dillon Dubé, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, and Cal Foote.
• E.M. is 27 years old.

Sources:

• [Source: Globe and Mail, author's name not provided]
• [Source: Globe and Mail, author's name not provided]