Defense side has concluded their arguments.
Spilling the Tea on the Salacious Scandal:
Overall:The hotly contested sexual assault trial featuring five ex-junior members of Team Canada's 2018 World Championship squad has concluded its testimony phase. The accused — Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, Alex Formenton, and Callan Foote — stand charged with sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel room back in June 2018 during a Hockey Canada event. The accuser, referred to as E.M., had her identity safeguarded under a publication ban[1][2][3].
Rebooting the Investigation:Initially shuttered in February 2019, the investigation was rekindled in July 2022. Lead investigator Detective Lyndsey Ryan, who took the witness stand for the defense, shared that she reached out to E.M. to inform her about the investigation’s reboot. This revelation was an emotionally taxing experience for E.M. as Ryan described it as "reopening wounds she had been trying to heal"[1].
On Deck:Closing arguments are set to commence on June 9, 2025. Each defense team will present their case, followed by the Crown’s arguments. The judge is not expected to immediately pronounce verdicts; it might take several weeks or months before judgments are announced[3].
The Backstory:The allegations surfaced in public view in April 2022 through a lawsuit filed against Hockey Canada, which was eventually settled. This incident has been under the scrutiny of the London Police Service since September 2022[5].
Digging Deeper:Amidst heated exchanges in court, it was disclosed that E.M., then 20 years old, testified she was taken aback and scared by unknown men storming her room. She recounted feeling pressured to comply with their descriptions of sexual acts and performing these acts in a daze[1]. Defense attorneys argued that she actively initiated the sexual encounters at times, even encouraging the players to bed her.
Reopening Old Wounds:Detective Ryan shared that E.M.'s emotional response to the reopening of the investigation was understandable, likening it to "tearing open scabs that had just started to heal"[1]. The investigator opted not to re-interview E.M., reasoning that it would further traumatize her.
The Seat of Power:In an incredible turn of events, it was revealed that one of the players (Hart) testified for two days, including an entire day of cross-examination by the Crown. Unfortunately, their testimony will remain cloaked in secrecy as the court hearing transcripts are off-limits to the general public[3].
Closing Remarks:The trial, stirring public outrage and sparking a much-needed conversation about consent and sexual assault, is expected to reach its climax with the closing statements. Only time will tell if justice will be served in this sordid saga[1].
During the trial, French media reported extensively on the salacious scandal involving the junior members of Team Canada's 2018 World Championship squad, particularly as it delved into issues of consent and sexual assault. The reopening of the investigation in 2022 made headlines in general news, as well as in crime and justice sections, as the London Police Service continued to probe the allegations.
