Hockey Canada Sexual Assault Case: Complainant Faces Cross-Examination

The complainant in the Hockey Canada sexual assault case faced tough questioning on her sixth day of cross-examination, with her lawyers suggesting she may have been more active in the alleged encounter than she has testified. The 20-year-old woman alleges she was sexually assaulted by several members of the Canadian world junior championship team in a London, Ont., hotel room in June 2018. During her testimony, the woman recalled hearing men around her in the room saying someone should have sex with her, but the defence has countered that she was demanding to have sex with players.

Key Takeaways:

• The complainant agreed that it was "possible" she pulled player Alex Formenton into the hotel room bathroom where he allegedly sexually assaulted her.
• The woman texted her best friend in the hours following the alleged incident that she had been "a little overdramatic" and that she felt "really guilty and mad at myself for letting that s--- happen."
• The defence suggested that the complainant was far more active in the encounter than she has testified, including pulling down Formenton's pants and underwear and apologizing because she had sunburns on her chest.
• The complainant confirmed she was on birth control at the time and had been sunbathing nude in her backyard, but denied recalling any conversation with Formenton or saying and doing the things suggested by the defence.
• The woman testified she was very drunk at Jack's and back at the hotel room, where she alleges the men placed a bedsheet on the floor and asked her to fondle herself, to perform oral sex on them as she was slapped and spat on, and to have vaginal intercourse.
• The complainant maintained she engaged in the sexual activity while adopting a "porn star persona" as a coping mechanism while in a room surrounded by men she didn't know.
• Dudé's lawyer pointed out that the complainant didn't mention in the initial texts or phone call with her friend that she had been sexually assaulted or that she had been scared.
• The complainant maintained she was still processing everything at the time and didn't want to admit that the incident was as bad as it was.

Statistics:

• The complainant was 20 years old at the time of the alleged incident.
• The alleged incident occurred in a hotel room at the Delta Armouries hotel in London, Ont.
• The complainant alleges that 5 players (McLeod, Formenton, Dubé, Hart and Foote) were involved in the alleged incident.
• The complainant has testified that she was very drunk during the alleged incident and had been drinking at Jack's bar before returning to the hotel room.
• The woman has stated that she was on birth control at the time of the alleged incident.

Sources:

• [Geoff Robins / THE CANADIAN PRESS]
• [Jacques Gallant Courts and Justice Reporter]