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Sexual abuse

Hockey Canada Sexual Assault Trial: Jury Dismissed After Hearing Three Weeks of Evidence

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The highly publicized Hockey Canada sexual assault trial has reached a critical juncture with the jury being dismissed after three weeks of intense proceedings. The trial, which began on April 28, has seen disturbing allegations of sexual assault and abuse by five members of the 2018 Canadian world junior championship team. The complainant, a then-20-year-old woman, testified that she was subjected to multiple acts of sexual assault, including being asked to perform oral sex and vaginal intercourse, while in a state of "autopilot" mode. The Crown has alleged that the accused players, Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, and Cal Foote, engaged in a range of intimate and degrading acts with the complainant.

Key Takeaways:

  • The jury, which had invested four weeks in the trial, was dismissed by Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia, citing the need to protect the fair trial rights of the accused.
  • The complainant testified that she felt disassociated from her body during the alleged assaults and adopted a "porn star persona" as a coping mechanism.
  • The trial has seen testimony from multiple witnesses, including a London police detective and the accused players, who have pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
  • The Crown has alleged that the accused players engaged in a range of intimate and degrading acts with the complainant, including oral and vaginal intercourse.
  • The accused players, who were all members of the 2018 Canadian world junior championship team, have denied all allegations of assault.

Statistics:

  • 3 weeks: The duration of the trial
  • 9 days: The number of days the complainant testified
  • 4 weeks: The amount of time the jury invested in the trial
  • 2018: The year in which the alleged assaults took place
  • 5: The number of accused players

Sources:

  • Jacques Gallant; www.thestar.com
  • Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia's courtroom transcript
  • The Crown's opening statement and evidence presented during the trial
  • Testimony of the complainant and accused players
  • London police surveillance footage and witness statements

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