Latest news with #CarterHart
CBC
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Carter Hart's testimony challenged at sexual assault trial
Carter Hart, one of the five former world junior hockey players accused of sexual assault, had his previous testimony challenged by the Crown attorney during cross examination on Friday.
CBC
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Ex-teammate's testimony, police interviews mark consequential week at Hockey Canada sex assault trial
The Latest The sexual assault trial of five former Hockey Canada world junior players continued today in Ontario Superior Court in London. Carter Hart was cross-examined by the Crown. He began his testimony yesterday, as a defence witness. Assistant Crown attorney Meaghan Cunningham drilled down into Hart's specific memories of what happened in the hotel room on the night of the alleged assaults. Hart's defence team rested its case. Earlier this week, a retired detective who interviewed some of the players testified as videos were shown in court. Alex Formenton's defence counsel are taking the weekend to decide whether they will call evidence. All five men on trial — Hart, Formenton, Cal Foote, Dillon Dubé and Michael McLeod — have pleaded not guilty.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Hockey Canada sexual assault trial update: Carter Hart breaks silence, claims the woman 'willingly participated" in the sexual activity
Carter Hart testified that the complainant willingly participated in the sexual activity (Nicole Osborne/The Canadian Press) The ongoing sexual assault trial involving five former members of Canada's 2018 World Junior Hockey team took a pivotal turn this week as NHL goalie Carter Hart took the witness stand. Hart is the first among the accused to testify in the high-profile case that has rocked the Canadian hockey world and drawn national attention since allegations emerged over an incident during a Hockey Canada gala in London, Ontario. Group sexual assault case involving Hockey Canada players continues amid controversy and courtroom disruptions — CityNewsVAN (@CityNewsVAN) Carter Hart told the Ontario Superior Court that the woman at the center of the case — identified only as E.M. due to a publication ban — "willingly participated" in the sexual activity that occurred in a hotel room following the June 2018 event. He claimed E.M. never objected or expressed discomfort during the encounter. "She willingly participated in the sexual activities... and did not express any objections," Hart stated under oath. Hart's legal team took a direct aim at the credibility of prosecution witness Brett Howden, an NHL player with the Vegas Golden Knights. Howden, who testified remotely, was cross-examined regarding inconsistencies in his memory of the night. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like One of the Most Successful Investors of All Time, Warren Buffett, Recommends: 5 Books for Turning... Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Click Here Hart's lawyer, Megan Savard, suggested Howden's recollection could be impaired due to a prior head injury, raising doubts about the reliability of his testimony. Trial plagued by procedural issues and jury dismissal This trial, which began after a previous one was derailed by a mistrial, has already seen significant disruption. Earlier this month, the jury was dismissed when jurors expressed concern over feeling mocked by defense lawyers — a rare occurrence in Canadian courtrooms. A prior mistrial had already occurred due to allegations of inappropriate contact between a juror and a defense attorney. As a result, the proceedings are now moving forward without a jury. While Michael McLeod, another of the accused, will not be testifying, it remains unclear whether Cal Foote, Dillon Dubé, or Alex Formenton will take the stand. All five former players have pleaded not guilty to the charges. McLeod faces an additional charge of being a party to the offense. Also Read: 'Have s*x in front of nine other guys': Michael McLeod calls hotel group s*x encounter 'weird' as Hockey Canada sexual assault scandal deepens The case continues under Justice Maria Carroccia, with a publication ban limiting full disclosure of court proceedings. All five accused remain on leave from the NHL and are not currently under contract.
Toronto Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Hockey Canada trial: Carter Hart claims woman was 'sexually demanding'
Carter Hart said he believes if anyone had been offside with the woman in Canadian world junior hockey teammate Michael McLeod's hotel room, he would have said something, done something or simply left. Jane Sims Published May 30, 2025 • 5 minute read Carter Hart on the stand answering Asst. Crown Meaghan Cunningham (Charles Vincent/Special to The London Free Press) Carter Hart said he believes if anyone had been offside with the woman in Canadian world junior hockey teammate Michael McLeod's hotel room, he would have said something, done something or simply left. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 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 Toronto Sun 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 Toronto Sun 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 Don't have an account? Create Account For example, when Crown attorney Meaghan Cunningham pressed him on whether he saw the woman being slapped hard on the behind during the encounter on June 19, 2018, Hart – who admits he was so drunk he has only flashes of memory from that night – said he had no recollection of that happening. 'It's hard to say because I don't think anybody would have done anything to hurt her,' Hart said. If she had been slapped hard, he said, he would have noticed. 'I think if something would have happened that she wasn't okay with or didn't want, I would have put a stop to it. Other guys would have, I would have left. I don't think I would have stayed in that room for as long as I did.' But Cunningham pointed out during her cross-examination of the former Philadelphia Flyers goaltender that because he has limited memories of his hour in the room, she suggested that it was possible he did see something – like a hard slap – and has no memory of it. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'No. . . . I wouldn't have stayed in the room,' Hart said. 'During my time in the room, I never saw anything like that and I do remember it being really late when I did leave and we had to be up in two hours,' he added. He never felt 'that things were getting out of hand.' Hart, 26; McLeod, 27; Alex Formenton, 25; Dillon Dube, 26; and Cal Foote, 26 – all members of the 2018 Team Canada world junior championship team – have pleaded not guilty to sexual assault at the high-profile trial that began late last month. McLeod has pleaded not guilty to a second sexual assault charge for being a party to an offence. The allegations centre on what happened in Room 209 of London's Delta Armouries hotel on June 19, 2018. McLeod brought a girl back to the room from Jack's bar on Richmond Row. The team was in London for a Hockey Canada gala and golf tournament. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The woman, now 27, was 20 at the time of the events and her identity is protected by a court order. She has testified that after consensual sex with McLeod, at least 10 team members came into the room where she said she was repeatedly forced into unwanted sexual activities. The five accused, however, have countered that the woman was the sexual aggressor who wanted McLeod to invite them in for 'a wild night.' They claim she taunted and begged the assembled crew for sex, and consented to all sexual activity. Hart is the first of the accused to testify after the Crown closed its case on Thursday. McLeod has already opted not to call any additional evidence. Hart, who hasn't played professionally since January 2024 when the charges were laid by the London police after re-investigating the matter, has been forthright about what he did with the woman. He recalled arriving in the room to find her naked on a bedsheet on the floor, surrounded by several other players. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He said the two-day visit to London marked only the third time he had ever consumed alcohol. He described a long, boozy night that began with an open bar at the gala and continued into the early morning. He's also admitted to be being 'open' to a sexual encounter in London because he was 19 and single. Hart agreed he sent a text out to the team at about 1 a.m. while at Jack's, asking if anyone wanted to go see some 'rippers,' meaning strippers. After 2 a.m., as he walked back to the hotel with Formenton and another player, he responded 'I'm in' to McLeod's text about a '3-way.' He told Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia that when the woman asked the men to have sex with her and no one responded, he asked her for oral sex. He said she consented, grabbed his crotch over his shorts, pulled them down, and performed oral sex for about 30 seconds to a minute. He kept his hands on his hips, he testified. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He told Cunningham that he was 'pretty confident' he was the first man to receive sexual activity from the woman once the men were in the room and after she had asked for someone to have sex with her while she was pleasuring herself. 'Throughout the whole night, she was the one to ask guys to do things with her continuously,' he said. 'I'd never experienced seeing a girl act like that . . . forward and sexually demanding. I just couldn't believe she was saying these things and comfortable enough to say these things in front of a group of people.' Hart said her demands were so constant that he texted teammate Dante Fabbro – also single – to come to the room. Cunningham suggested that Hart wouldn't have invited Fabbro unless he thought what was happening was 'fun and exciting.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I think I felt that maybe he was open to it,' Hart said, agreeing he found the situation exciting. Hart also recalled Formenton, who had sexual intercourse with the woman, being led into the bathroom by the woman. He said he saw Foote do the splits, his party trick, over the naked woman after chants of 'Footer, do the splits.' He insisted Foote had his clothes on, only dropped to a 'three-quarter split,' and that everyone, including the woman, laughed. 'I know that his legs never touched her body,' he added. Cunningham said the reason Foote was being encouraged was 'to keep the party going' and asked Hart if he knew the meaning of a graphic sexual term. Cunningham said that would be 'exciting' for the players. 'I think that would be pretty weird,' Hart said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Well the whole night was weird, wasn't it?' Cunningham shot back. Cunningham suggested that the players 'couldn't believe (their) luck' to be in a hotel room with a naked woman. Hart agreed that at age 19, he thought what was happening was 'pretty cool.' Cunningham asked Hart about the two 'consent' videos recorded by McLeod where it appeared that the woman was consenting to all sexual activity. Hart said he didn't know about them until he was preparing for trial. He said it never occurred to him to record consent because it seemed obvious she was consenting. But he wouldn't agree that someone would think of recording a consent video if there was a possibility someone might say later they weren't consenting. 'Lots of professional athletes have done these things before,' he said. The trial continues. jsims@ Toronto & GTA World Toronto & GTA World Columnists
CBC
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Crown grills ex-player Carter Hart on his memory at sexual assault trial
Former world juniors player Carter Hart was cross-examined by the Crown attorney on his specific memories of what happened in the London, Ont., hotel room on the night of the alleged sexual assaults in 2018.
