Latest news with #hockeytrial
CTV News
3 days ago
- General
- CTV News
One of accused hockey players testifies at sexual assault trial
A composite image of five photographs show former members of Canada's 2018 World Juniors hockey team, left to right, Alex Formenton, Cal Foote, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube and Carter Hart as they individually arrived to court in London, Ont., Wednesday, April 30, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nicole Osborne Warning: This story contains graphic details and allegations of sexual assault Crown lawyer Meaghan Cunningham told the court she would not be calling anymore witnesses and was formally closing the Crown's case in the sexual assault trial of five former members of Canada's world junior hockey team in a London, Ont. courtroom. On Thursday, David Humphrey, representing Michael McLeod, said he would not be calling evidence, given McLeod's police statement in 2018 was already shown in court via video taken in 2018. Megan Savard, lawyer for Carter Hart, called on Hart to testify in the trial. Savard asked Hart about the complainant, known as E.M. 'Did you have sexual contact with her?' Savard asked. 'Yes,' he answered. 'Was it consensual?' Savard asked. 'Yes,' Hart answered. Hart testified he saw E.M. laying on a bedsheet on the floor masturbating and asking guys to have sex with her, in room 209 of the Delta Hotel in London, Ont. Savard asked Hart how he was feeling about what was going on in the room. 'Pretty excited,' he said. 'I'm 19 years old and there's a naked girl in the room doing these things willingly. I'd never seen something like this before.' Hart testified he was single at the time but 'did not want to have intercourse with her' and asked if she could give him oral sex. He said E.M. crawled towards him on her knees and gave him oral sex. The sexual encounter lasted 'about 30 to 60 seconds' because he 'couldn't get fully erect', he said. Hart testified that E.M. started to get 'annoyed' because no one was having sex with her. He said he remembers Alex Formenton going to the washroom with E.M. Court previously heard Formenton and E.M. had sexual intercourse in the washroom; the Crown alleges that was nonconsensual. Hart testified he was standing next to where Cal Foote did the splits that night. The sexual assault charge against Foote stems from the Crown's allegation he did the splits over E.M.'s face while she was laying on the ground, and his genitals grazed her face. Hart said Foote did not make physical contact with E.M. and he was fully clothed. E.M., alleges she was sexually assaulted in room 209 of the Delta Hotel in the early morning hours of June 19, 2018. If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual assault or trauma, the following resources are available to support people in crisis: If you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety, you should call 911. A full list of sexual assault centres in Canada that offer information, advocacy and counselling can be found on the website for the Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres. Helplines, legal services and locations that offer sexual assault kits in Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia can be found here. National Residential School Crisis Line: +1 866 925 4419 24-hour crisis line: 416 597 8808 Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: +1 833 900 1010 Trans Lifeline: +1 877 330 6366 Sexual misconduct support for current or former members of the Armed Forces: +1 844 750 1648 Read about your rights as a victim here.
CTV News
3 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Crown wraps up its case in hockey players' sex assault trial
A composite image of five photographs show former members of Canada's 2018 World Juniors hockey team, left to right, Alex Formenton, Cal Foote, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube and Carter Hart as they individually arrived to court in London, Ont., Wednesday, April 30, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nicole Osborne Warning: This story contains graphic details and allegations of sexual assault Crown lawyer Meaghan Cunningham told the court she would not be calling anymore witnesses and was formally closing the Crown's case in the sexual assault trial of five former members of Canada's world junior hockey team in a London, Ont. courtroom. On Thursday, David Humphrey, representing Michael McLeod, said he would not be calling evidence, given McLeod's police statement in 2018 was already shown in court via video taken in 2018. Megan Savard, lawyer for Carter Hart, called on Hart to testify in the trial. Det. Steve Newton's interviews with Alex Formenton and Dillon Dube were played in court Wednesday, a day after court viewed his interview with McLeod. The retired detective who led the initial investigation into the allegations also testified Wednesday that he had formed a general assessment of the case before speaking to any of the players and told some of their lawyers he did not believe he had grounds to lay charges. McLeod, Formenton, Dube, Carter Hart and Callan Foote have pleaded not guilty to sexual assault, and McLeod has also pleaded not guilty to an additional charge of being a party to the offence of sexual assault. The charges stem from an encounter that took place in a London, Ont., hotel room in the early hours of June 19, 2018. At the time, many members of the 2018 national world junior team were in town for a series of events celebrating their championship win. If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual assault or trauma, the following resources are available to support people in crisis: If you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety, you should call 911. A full list of sexual assault centres in Canada that offer information, advocacy and counselling can be found on the website for the Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres. Helplines, legal services and locations that offer sexual assault kits in Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia can be found here. National Residential School Crisis Line: +1 866 925 4419 24-hour crisis line: 416 597 8808 Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: +1 833 900 1010 Trans Lifeline: +1 877 330 6366 Sexual misconduct support for current or former members of the Armed Forces: +1 844 750 1648 Read about your rights as a victim here.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Defence to finish cross-examining hockey player at ex-teammates' trial
A composite image of five photographs show former members of Canada's 2018 World Juniors hockey team, left to right, Alex Formenton, Cal Foote, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube and Carter Hart as they individually arrived to court in London, Ont., Wednesday, April 30, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nicole Osborne Content advisory: This article includes graphic language and details of alleged sexual assault Defence lawyers are expected to finish cross-examining a former member of Canada's world junior hockey team today at the sexual assault trial of five of his ex-teammates. Brett Howden, who now plays in the NHL for the Vegas Golden Knights, began testifying by videoconference last Tuesday at the trial of Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote. All five of the accused have pleaded not guilty to sexual assault, and McLeod has also pleaded not guilty to an additional charge of being a party to the offence of sexual assault. Here's a recap of week four of the trial Day 20: Cross-examination focuses on Hart's actions, Howden's memory in junior hockey sexual assault trial The charges stem from an encounter that took place in a London, Ont., hotel room in the early hours of June 19, 2018. At the time, many members of the 2018 national world junior team were in town for a series of events celebrating their championship win. Howden has testified that he was in the hotel room with several other players for a period of time that night, but does not remember many details of what happened. If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual assault or trauma, the following resources are available to support people in crisis: If you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety, you should call 911. A full list of sexual assault centres in Canada that offer information, advocacy and counselling can be found on the website for the Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres. Helplines, legal services and locations that offer sexual assault kits in Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia can be found here . National Residential School Crisis Line: +1 866 925 4419 24-hour crisis line: 416 597 8808 Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: +1 833 900 1010 Trans Lifeline: +1 877 330 6366 Sexual misconduct support for current or former members of the Armed Forces: +1 844 750 1648 Read about your rights as a victim here.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Cross-examination focuses on Hart's actions, Howden's memory in junior hockey sexual assault trial
A composite image of five photographs show former members of Canada's 2018 World Juniors hockey team, left to right, Alex Formenton, Callan Foote, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube and Carter Hart as they individually arrived to court in London, Ont., Wednesday, April 30, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nicole Osborne Content advisory: This article includes graphic language and details of alleged sexual assault Brett Howden is back on the stand, virtually, in a London, Ont., courtroom to be cross-examined in the sexual assault trial of five former world junior hockey players. Megan Savard, lawyer for Carter Hart, questioned Howden about what he saw in room 209 at the Delta hotel in downtown London during the early morning hours of June 19, 2018. Hart, is accused of sexual assault and receiving oral sex from the female complainant, known as E.M. 'The impression you got was that Mr. Hart didn't really seem like he wanted to agree to oral sex at first,' Savard suggested to Howden. 'Yeah, correct,' he responded. Referring to a2018 statement where he said, 'He [Hart] might have been trying to look cool in front of his teammates.' Savard said: 'He moved a little bit towards the woman. That was how he indicated that he was maybe going to take her up on her request, right?' Howden and other witnesses on the stand have said E.M. was the one as initiating everything, and asking the men to have sex with her. 'And what you say about Mr. Hart at the top of page 79 [of a previous statement Howden made] is about him and the woman they like, kind of went to each other like it was 50/50, they met halfway, and then she gave him oral sex.' Howden agreed that this was his statement. To wrap up her questioning, Savard said to Howden: 'As I understand it, you suffered a pretty serious head injury a few months prior [to giving a statement to Hockey Canada], in March of 2022. She went on to tell the court, 'This is when it was on TV, right? You were knocked out during the game... I think you were unconscious for something like nine minutes on the ice and had to be stretchered off... you were taken to hospital, and then you were off. You weren't playing for some time after that, right?' Howden agreed and said: 'I've never really had to remember, try to remember so many little details like this before. And it's definitely gotten a lot harder over time.' Howden cross examined by McLeod's lawyer The first defence attorney to question Howden was David Humphrey, the lawyer for Michael McLeod. McLeod is charged with sexual assault in connection with an encounter that took place in the early hours of June 19, 2018. He has also pleaded not guilty to an additional charge of being a party to the offence of sexual assault. Humphrey went over the timeline of events with Howden, from being in Jack's bar in downtown London to arriving at the Delta hotel. At 2:10 a.m. on June 19, 2018, a message in the a group chat showing as coming from 'Mikey McLeod' said 'who wants to be in a 3 way quick. 209 - mikey.' Howden told the court he didn't leave the bar knowing, or with the intention to go to to room 209, where the alleged assault took place. He said he wasn't getting any of the group chat messages on the night in question because he had just switched to a U.S phone number and his former teammates didn't have his new number. Howden is not accused of any wrongdoing. McLeod, Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote have all pleaded not guilty to sexual assault in connection with an encounter at a hotel room in London, Ont., in 2018. Hearsay application dismissed Justice Maria Carroccia has rejected the Crown's final attempt to have Brett Howden's June 26, 2018, text message to his former teammate Taylor Raddysh admitted as evidence under the principled approach to hearsay at the sexual assault trial of five former members of Canada's 2018 world junior hockey team. Crown attorney Meaghan Cunningham had argued with defence counsel for several days over the admissibility of a text message sent by Howden to Raddysh roughly a week after an alleged sexual assault at the Delta Armouries Hotel in downtown London, Ont. 'Dude, I'm so happy I left when all the s--t went down,' Howden's June 26, 2018, text message said. 'Haha. Man, when I was leaving, Duber was smacking this girl's ass so hard. Like, it looked like it hurt so bad.' In her decision on Monday, Carroccia reiterated that Howden said he has 'no present recollection of the incident [in Michael McLeod's hotel room].' 'The witness did not vouch for the accuracy of the statement and admits it could be inaccurate,' Carroccia said. 'It's unclear whether it's from his own observation or if it is something someone else told him.' Carroccia said in her ruling that it was possible Howden was lying to Raddysh or was being careless with the truth. Cunningham had told Carroccia that Howden's text was 'critical' to the government's case. Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, and Callan Foote are accused of sexually assaulting a then-20-year-old woman in McLeod's hotel room. McLeod is facing a second charge as being a party to the act. The Crown has alleged that Formenton had sex with E.M. in the bathroom, that McLeod, Hart and Dube received oral sex from the complainant, that Dube slapped E.M.'s naked buttocks, that Foote did the splits over E.M.'s head and 'grazed' his genitals over her head, and that McLeod had sex with E.M. for a second time in the hotel room bathroom. Howden, who is now 27 and who has been testifying remotely from Las Vegas where he plays for the Golden Knights, said last week that he didn't remember sending Raddysh that message. Both Howden and Raddysh were in McLeod's hotel room when E.M. was there with as many as 10 men. Neither Howden nor Raddysh have been accused of criminal wrongdoing. After Carroccia announced her ruling, McLeod's lawyer, David Humphrey, began cross-examining Howden. If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual assault or trauma, the following resources are available to support people in crisis: If you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety, you should call 911. A full list of sexual assault centres in Canada that offer information, advocacy and counselling can be found on the website for the Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres. Helplines, legal services and locations that offer sexual assault kits in Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia can be found here . National Residential School Crisis Line: +1 866 925 4419 24-hour crisis line: 416 597 8808 Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: +1 833 900 1010 Trans Lifeline: +1 877 330 6366 Sexual misconduct support for current or former members of the Armed Forces: +1 844 750 1648 Read about your rights as a victim here.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Judge rejects final attempt to have text message admitted as evidence in hockey players' trial
A composite image of five photographs show former members of Canada's 2018 World Juniors hockey team, left to right, Alex Formenton, Callan Foote, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube and Carter Hart as they individually arrived to court in London, Ont., Wednesday, April 30, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nicole Osborne Content advisory: This article includes graphic language and details of alleged sexual assault Justice Maria Carroccia has rejected the Crown's final attempt to have Brett Howden's June 26, 2018, text message to his former teammate Taylor Raddysh admitted as evidence under the principled approach to hearsay at the sexual assault trial of five former members of Canada's 2018 world junior hockey team. Crown attorney Meaghan Cunningham had argued with defence counsel for several days over the admissibility of a text message sent by Howden to Raddysh roughly a week after an alleged sexual assault at the Delta Armouries Hotel in downtown London, Ont. 'Dude, I'm so happy I left when all the s--t went down,' Howden's June 26, 2018, text message said. 'Haha. Man, when I was leaving, Duber was smacking this girl's ass so hard. Like, it looked like it hurt so bad.' In her decision on Monday, Carroccia reiterated that Howden said he has 'no present recollection of the incident [in Michael McLeod's hotel room].' 'The witness did not vouch for the accuracy of the statement and admits it could be inaccurate,' Carroccia said. 'It's unclear whether it's from his own observation or if it is something someone else told him.' Carroccia said in her ruling that it was possible Howden was lying to Raddysh or was being careless with the truth. Cunningham had told Carroccia that Howden's text was 'critical' to the government's case. Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, and Callan Foote are accused of sexually assaulting a then-20-year-old woman in McLeod's hotel room. McLeod is facing a second charge as being a party to the act. The Crown has alleged that Formenton had sex with E.M. in the bathroom, that McLeod, Hart and Dube received oral sex from the complainant, that Dube slapped E.M.'s naked buttocks, that Foote did the splits over E.M.'s head and 'grazed' his genitals over her head, and that McLeod had sex with E.M. for a second time in the hotel room bathroom. Howden, who is now 27 and who has been testifying remotely from Las Vegas where he plays for the Golden Knights, said last week that he didn't remember sending Raddysh that message. Both Howden and Raddysh were in McLeod's hotel room when E.M. was there with as many as 10 men. Neither Howden nor Raddysh have been accused of criminal wrongdoing. After Carroccia announced her ruling, McLeod's lawyer, David Humphrey, began cross-examining Howden.
