Player arrested in death of former NHLer from on-ice collision won't be charged
LONDON — A man arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the death of hockey player Adam Johnson has been told he will not face any charges, British prosecutors said Tuesday.
Article content
Article content
Johnson played for the Nottingham Panthers and died shortly after his neck had been sliced in a collision with Sheffield Steelers defenceman Matt Petgrave during a game on Oct. 28, 2023.
Article content
Article content
A man was arrested two weeks later and though South Yorkshire Police did not publicly identify him, Petgrave himself said in a crowdfunding appeal for legal fees that he was the subject of a police investigation.
Article content
Article content
On Tuesday, the Crown Prosecution Service announced it would not bring criminal charges against the man arrested following what it described as 'a shocking and deeply upsetting incident.'
Article content
'The CPS and South Yorkshire Police have worked closely together to determine whether any criminal charges should be brought against the other ice hockey player involved,' Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Michael Quinn said.
'Following a thorough police investigation and a comprehensive review of all the evidence by the CPS, we have concluded that there is not a realistic prospect of conviction for any criminal offense and so there will not be a prosecution. Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Adam Johnson.'
Article content
Article content
After his arrest, Petgrave had been re-bailed several times while the investigation took place. His agent declined to comment Tuesday.
Article content
During the game, Johnson had skated with the puck into Sheffield's defensive zone when Petgrave collided with another Panthers player nearby. Petgrave's left skate elevated as he began to fall and the blade hit Johnson in the neck.
Article content
Article content
The native of Hibbing, Minnesota, was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The death of the 29-year-old former Pittsburgh Penguins player sparked debate across the sport about improving safety for players.
Article content
Petgrave, a 33-year-old Canadian, had support from some of Johnson's teammates. Victor Björkung had told a Swedish newspaper there 'isn't a chance that it's deliberate.' Björkung had played the pass to Johnson and said he was traumatized by what he saw.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
35 minutes ago
American man who kayaked to Canada says he's claimed asylum, wants to find peace
When an American man first set foot in Canada after paddling across the border in a kayak (new window) earlier this month, his first stop was none other than Tim Hortons, he says. I hit the sand, drugged my 'yak up on the sand, geared up, went across the road to Timmies, had a cup of coffee [and] calmed down a little bit, Dan Livers said Monday. Livers, 51, made headlines two weeks ago when police in the town of LaSalle, Ont., said they found him at around 1 a.m. trying to illegally enter the country. They said they handed him over to federal authorities, but didn't release his name, and it was unclear what happened to him after that. Enlarge image (new window) Dan Livers, an American man who kayaked to Canada in early August, is seen in Windsor, Ont., on Aug. 18, 2025. Photo: CBC / Mike Evans Now, he's in Windsor and telling his story. Livers says he's a U.S. Army veteran who was living in western Michigan before his recent trek across the Detroit River. He says he has claimed asylum in Canada with hopes of finding peace north of the border. On Aug. 5, he set out from the Michigan shoreline in a kayak he says he got for $25, cutting across international shipping channels and landing about 12 kilometres south of the Ambassador Bridge. Livers' kayak, now in the possession of the RCMP. Photo: Courtesy RCMP Livers says that once he left Tim Hortons, he tried to declare himself at a nearby fire station, but staff told him they don't handle that sort of thing. So he decided he would wait to run into local law enforcement. He says that roughly six hours later, he came across a LaSalle police officer. About 1 in the morning, a patrolman was out doing his rounds and, you know, doing his job, Livers said. And lo there I was. He made contact with me and I turned myself into him. The force said the officer was conducting commercial property checks at the time. Later that day, LaSalle police said they had transferred him to the RCMP. The national police force, which is responsible for border security outside official ports of entry, confirmed Livers' identity to CBC News. The RCMP then brought Livers to Canadian border officials. The Canada Border Services Agency declined to comment on the specific case, citing privacy rules. But Livers says he has applied for refugee protections and has been granted a temporary status in Canada. He says he fears for his life back home, and that that's why he crossed in a kayak — not at an official border crossing. I remember East Germany when I was a kid, he said. Nobody came through Checkpoint Charlie and I wasn't gonna run the gauntlet of ICE, sheriff's department, state police, whomever. Livers says he fears retribution after criticizing a nonprofit group in Michigan that provides service dogs and works with the state government. It's all true. All the nonsense you hear south of the border is true, he said. Enlarge image (new window) Dan Livers, an American man who recently kayaked to Canada, in downtown Windsor on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025. Photo: CBC / Mike Evans CBC News cannot verify Livers's claims. In any case, it will be up to him to prove to Canadian authorities that he has a real fear of persecution or serious harm in the U.S. — and that he wouldn't be safe anywhere in the country. He'll likely need to plead his case before the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, an independent tribunal that decides whether asylum seekers can stay in the country long-term. Eddie Kadri, a Windsor-based immigration lawyer, said regardless of the specifics of Livers' claims, his chances of success are low. We have a fragile refugee system as it is, and it certainly wasn't designed or meant to be used by American citizens seeking legal status in Canada, Kadri said in an email. Under Canadian law, the legal requirements to be met in order for a claimant to be found a refugee or a person in need of protection is one that would be quite difficult for an American citizen to meet, if not impossible. Either way, Livers could be waiting months or even years for a decision on his asylum claim. The federal government is working through a backlog of cases. Enlarge image (new window) Livers recently added a Canada-U.S. pin to his hat. Photo: CBC / Mike Evans For now, he's staying at the Downtown Mission, a shelter in Windsor's core, and says his experience in Canada has been great so far. He misses his dog, Orthos, and the friend who's caring for him, though. He knows getting refugee protection will be hard, but says he's up for the challenge. I just don't want to get killed and I hate looking over my shoulder, he said. I promise I'll do everything I can to be a good Canadian and I will defend your border, I swear. Emma Loop (new window) · CBC News · Digital Reporter/Editor Emma Loop is a digital reporter/editor for CBC Windsor. She previously spent eight years covering politics, national security, and business in Washington, D.C. Before that, she covered Canadian politics in Ottawa. She has worked at the Windsor Star, Ottawa Citizen, Axios, and BuzzFeed News, where she was a member of the FinCEN Files investigative reporting team that was named a finalist for the 2021 Pulitzer Prize in International Reporting. She was born and raised in Essex County, Ont. You can reach her at
Calgary Herald
35 minutes ago
- Calgary Herald
13-year-old and two 11-year-olds arrested after Calgary Transit bus driver has weapon pointed at them in Rundle
A Calgary Police Service SUV. Jim Wells/Postmedia file Two 11-year-olds and a 13-year-old girl were arrested after a Calgary Transit operator was threatened in the northeast last week. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors But under federal law, only the oldest of the assailants will face charges. The assault was reported shortly after midnight on Friday, Aug. 15, when police received reports from Calgary Transit that one of its bus drivers had been accosted by by three of her exiting passengers. 'The driver reported that three youths had exited her bus at the Rundle CTrain station, and, while exiting, struck the side of the bus, then pointed a gun at the driver,' CPS said in a Wednesday news release. Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again Police quickly located the youths and were able to stop the southbound train leaving the Rundle CTrain station before it departed, CPS stated. The three were taken into custody and two replica firearms and one knife were seized. Two 11-year-olds were arrested in connection with the assault. As children under the age of 12 cannot be charged with a criminal offence under the Criminal Code of Canada, they were released into the custody of their parents, CPS stated. A 13-year-old girl was charged with one count each of assault with a weapon, using a weapon to commit an offence, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public and concealing a weapon. Due to her age, the girl cannot be named under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. While youth-related crime in Calgary has gone down by nine per cent compared to last year, it remains six per cent higher than the five-year average, according to CPS statistics. And though the rate of violent offences committed by youth is consistent with 2024 levels, there has been a 17 per cent increase relative to the five-year average, primarily driven by assaults and robberies. 'We are seeing increasingly concerning behaviours amongst youth, and it's a call to action for all of us,' said Inspector Sarah Roe of the Calgary Police Service Youth Services Section. 'It's going to take coordinated efforts across families, schools, community organizations and police to intervene early and support youth in making better choices.'
Global News
3 hours ago
- Global News
‘Something is broken': Ford slams assault charges against homeowner after break-in
Premier Doug Ford is speaking out after a Lindsay, Ont., homeowner was charged with assault following a violent encounter with an alleged intruder over the weekend. 'This criminal that's wanted by the police breaks into this guy's house, this guy gives him a beating, and this guy gets charged. Something is broken,' Ford said at a press conference on Wednesday. 'I know if someone breaks into my house or someone else's, you're gonna fight for your life. You're going to use whatever force you can to protect your family. I know everyone would.' Ford's comments come after Kawartha Lakes Police Service charged a 44-year-old man with aggravated assault and assault with a weapon. The charges stem from an incident on Aug. 18, when police were called to an apartment for reports of an altercation between two men. Story continues below advertisement Police said the resident woke up to find a man inside his home. A struggle broke out, leaving the alleged intruder with life-threatening injuries. He was taken to Ross Memorial Hospital and later airlifted to a Toronto trauma centre. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The homeowner was charged and released from custody with a future court date. The case prompted Kawartha Lakes Police to issue a public statement Wednesday defending their actions. 'We recognize that the recent media release has generated significant public interest and emotional responses,' the force said. 'However, the negative commentary about the officers and their actions is unjust and inaccurate.' The statement emphasized that investigators laid charges only after reviewing all available evidence and stressed that under Canadian law, charges are part of a process and not proof of guilt. This means that while homeowners do have the right to protect themselves and their property, the use of force must be proportionate to the level of force used. 'Homeowners do have the right to defend themselves and their property,' the statement continued, referencing Sections 34 and 35 of the Criminal Code. 'However, these rights are not unlimited. The use of force must be reasonable given the circumstances.' Story continues below advertisement Meanwhile, police say the 41-year-old alleged intruder, who remains in hospital, was already wanted on unrelated matters at the time of the break-in. He now faces several additional charges, including break and enter, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, mischief under $5,000, and failure to comply with probation. He will be held in custody pending a bail hearing once released from hospital. Kawartha Lakes Police say there is no threat to public safety, and the investigation remains ongoing.
