Canadian hockey players found not guilty in controversial sexual assault case after years amid witness inconsistencies

Time of India

25-07-2025

Ontario Court acquits five Canadian hockey players in high-profile sexual assault case (Getty Images)
Five former Canadian junior hockey players were acquitted of sexual assault charges tied to a 2018 incident in London, Ontario. The judgment, delivered by Justice Maria Carroccia, concluded a lengthy and high-profile trial that had become a national conversation on consent, memory, and the legal threshold for criminal responsibility.
Judge cites insufficient evidence and inconsistencies in the complainant's testimony
After an eight-week trial that captured the attention of the nation, Justice Carroccia found Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, and Carter Hart not guilty. The former Canadian World Junior team members had been accused of sexually assaulting a woman, referred to as EM, in a hotel room following a Hockey Canada gala. Carroccia spent hours detailing her reasoning, underscoring contradictions in EM's testimony, including discrepancies about who bought drinks and conflicting accounts provided to police and Hockey Canada investigators.
'She went to great lengths to emphasize how intoxicated she was,' said Justice Carroccia. However, the judge added that surveillance footage and witness testimony did not corroborate the level of impairment EM described. Two videos shown during the trial, one taken without her knowledge, showed EM appearing composed, smiling, and providing verbal consent — though the judge clarified that the videos alone did not legally establish consent under Canadian law.
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The ruling emphasized the importance of establishing credibility and reliability in a complainant's account, something the Crown, in the judge's view, failed to do. 'The Crown cannot meet its onus on any of the counts,' she concluded.
Emotional fallout, public protests, and future implications
The courtroom was packed, with additional rooms opened for the overflow crowd. As the not-guilty verdicts were read, visible signs of relief were seen among the players and their families.
Yet, outside the courthouse and on social media, a different emotion pulsed — frustration, sorrow, and disbelief.
EM did not appear in person but watched the hearing virtually. Her lawyer, Karen Bellehumeur, expressed disappointment: 'She's really never experienced not being believed like this before… She agreed to do everything asked of her by the criminal justice system… yet it was not enough.'
Protesters gathered outside with signs in support of EM, warning the outcome could cast a chilling effect on future survivors of sexual assault.
One protester stated, 'This verdict will influence how sexual assault cases are viewed in Canada for the next decade.'
The NHL, where four of the players had active contracts at the time of the charges, reiterated that they remain ineligible to play until the league completes its internal review. Meanwhile, the NHLPA called the eligibility ruling 'inconsistent' with standard procedures and advocated for the players' return.
Crown prosecutor Meaghan Cunningham acknowledged the verdict but stood by the complainant: 'A successful prosecution is not measured solely by guilty verdicts. Our goal was a fair trial — fair to both EM and the accused.' An appeal is still being considered, with a 30-day window to file.
As legal teams retreat and the headlines begin to fade, the emotional and cultural resonance of the case is expected to linger, not just within the hockey community but across the broader conversation on consent and justice.
FAQs
Q1: Who were the five hockey players acquitted in the sexual assault case?
Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, and Carter Hart were acquitted by an Ontario judge.
Q2: What was the main reason for the acquittal?
The judge ruled the complainant's testimony lacked sufficient credibility and consistency to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
Q3: Will the players return to the NHL?
They remain ineligible pending the NHL's internal review of the court's findings.
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