Defence Argues Complainant Fabricated Allegations in High-Profile Hockey Canada Trial

Strategic Insights -

A 20-year-old woman, who claims she was sexually assaulted by five Canadian hockey players in a hotel room in 2018, fabricated her allegations because she didn't want to admit she chose to be "sexually adventurous" in a hotel room full of men she had just met, the defence argued. The woman had met one of the players, Michael McLeod, at a bar and had consensual sex with him, but then allowed multiple men to join in without her consent. The defence claimed that the woman was "willing and enthusiastic" throughout the night and that her story is "preposterous" and contradicts the testimony of some of the Crown's own witnesses.

Key Takeaways:

  • The defence argued that the complainant was a "fully consenting participant" who fabricated her allegations to avoid admitting she was "sexually adventurous" in a hotel room with multiple men she had just met.
  • The complainant initially told police that she was too drunk to consent to the sexual activity, but later changed her story to say that she was too terrified to consent.
  • The defence pointed to the complainant's testimony that she may have made demands to have sex with the players in the room as a coping mechanism, which the defence found "preposterous".
  • The defence argued that the complainant had a 15-minute window to get dressed and leave the hotel room after other players began showing up, but she chose to stay and engage in further sexual activity.
  • The defence claimed that the complainant created a false narrative to present herself as a victim and avoid bearing personal responsibility for her actions.
  • The Crown will present its closing arguments later this week.

Statistics:

  • The complainant was 20 years old at the time of the alleged assault.
  • The players involved were all members of the 2018 Canadian world junior championship team.
  • The complainant was drinking at the bar with the players before the alleged assault.
  • The first two players in the room after the complainant had consensual sex with McLeod were Taylor Raddysh and Boris Katchouk.
  • The complainant had a 15-minute window to get dressed and leave the hotel room between when Raddysh and Katchouk left and when other players began showing up.

Sources:

  • The defence argument was presented by lawyer David Humphrey.
  • The Crown's closing arguments will be presented later this week.
  • The case is being heard in Superior Court in London, Ontario.
  • The complaint was made in June 2018 after the woman's mother called the police and her mother's partner called Hockey Canada.