Hockey Canada's Investigation Tactics Under Scrutiny as Player Cross-Examined

Strategic Insights -

In a key development in the London trial of five world junior hockey teammates accused of sexual assault, a former teammate testified that he couldn't recall whether the complainant was upset in a hotel room on the night of the alleged assault in 2018. Brett Howden, a player with the Vegas Golden Knights, told the court that he saw the complainant involved in sexual acts with some of the accused players but did not participate. However, his statements to Hockey Canada's investigator in 2018 and 2022 are being challenged by the Crown, which is seeking to have them entered into evidence.

Key Takeaways:

  • Brett Howden testified that he saw the complainant involved in sexual acts with some of the accused players but did not participate.
  • Howden stated that he couldn't remember whether the complainant was upset in the hotel room on the night of the alleged assault.
  • The Crown is seeking to have Howden's statements to Hockey Canada's investigator entered into evidence, which would be the first time this has happened in the trial.
  • Hockey Canada's investigation tactics have been criticized as coercive, with a pretrial judge ruling that the organization's threats to players with a lifetime ban and public naming were improper.
  • Three of the accused players' statements to Hockey Canada's investigator were ruled inadmissible last year due to the coercive nature of the investigation.
  • The defense has challenged E.M.'s account of players seeing her cry in the hotel room, with one defense lawyer pointing out inconsistencies in her testimony.

Statistics:

  • 15 inconsistencies in the various statements made by Brett Howden to Hockey Canada's investigator.
  • 2018: the year in which the alleged assault took place.
  • 2022: the year in which Hockey Canada's investigator spoke with Brett Howden.

Sources:

  • "Citing inconsistencies, Crown seeks to enter Hockey Canada statements at sex assault trial in London" by Globe and Mail, [Source not explicitly provided, article accessible at globeandmail.com](https://www.globeandmail.com/news/national/article-crown-seeks-to-enter-hockey-canada-statements-at-sex-assault-trial/)
  • "Judge rules Hockey Canada's statements inadmissible in sex assault trial after ruling they were obtained through coercive means" by Globe and Mail, [Source not explicitly provided, article accessible at globeandmail.com](https://www.globeandmail.com/news/national/article-judge-rules-hockey-canada-statements-inadmissible-sex-assault-trial/)
  • "Judge criticizes Hockey Canada investigation tactics in sex assault trial" by Globe and Mail, [Source not explicitly provided, article accessible at globeandmail.com](https://www.globeandmail.com/news/national/article-judge-criticizes-hockey-canada-investigation-tactics-sex-assault-trial/)