Judge in Hockey Canada sexual assault trial sets verdict date for July 24
LONDON, Ont. – Justice Maria Carroccia set July 24 as the decision date in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial. During Tuesday's proceedings, in which the defense continued closing arguments, Carroccia said verdicts would be delivered in person on that date.
Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dubé and Cal Foote are all charged with sexual assault after an alleged incident in June 2018. The complainant — a woman known as E.M., whose identity is protected by a publication ban — has said she was sexually assaulted over the span of several hours in a London, Ont., hotel room. The players were in town for a Hockey Canada event celebrating their gold medal at the 2018 World Junior Championship.
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McLeod is also facing a second charge for 'being a party to the offense' for what the Crown has asserted was his role 'assisting and encouraging his teammates to engage sexually' with E.M.
All five players have pleaded not guilty at the commencement of the trial, which is in its eighth and final week.
— The Athletic's Kamila Hinkson contributed reporting remotely from Montreal.
(Photo by Andy Devlin / Getty Images)
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