Current Sexual Assault Trial Involving Former Hockey Canada Athletes

the ongoing sexual assault trial involving five former Hockey Canada world junior players-Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dubé, and Cal Foote-has been underway as late April at the Ontario Superior Court in London. All defendants have entered pleas of not guilty regarding allegations tied to an incident that allegedly occurred at a hotel in June 2018.

Closing Arguments Highlight Consistency in Victim’s Testimony

Assistant Crown Attorney Meaghan cunningham is presenting her closing arguments with the aid of a digital slideshow to reinforce key points. She has focused on countering defense claims by underscoring that E.M.’s account of events has remained largely unchanged since 2018.

Cunningham also refuted suggestions from the defense that financial gain motivated E.M.’s accusations,pointing out that her civil settlement with hockey Canada was finalized well before any criminal charges were initiated.

Group Chat Evidence Suggests Coordinated Storytelling

A critical element introduced during the trial involves text messages exchanged among some accused players shortly after Hockey Canada began its internal investigation in 2018. One message from Jake Bean attempts to dismiss wrongdoing: “No boys, like we don’t need to make anything up. No one did anything wrong…” Though, Cunningham highlighted numerous factual inaccuracies within this message based on witness statements and other evidence presented.

The chat thread later included comments such as claims that “the girl started begging everyone to have sex with her,” indicating efforts by those involved to align their narratives consistently. Cunningham described these exchanges as a purposeful “group project” designed to produce a unified version of events among participants present during the alleged incident.

Divergent Views on Group Chats: Defense vs Crown

• The defense maintains these conversations reflect anxiety about potential investigations rather than intentional collusion.
• Cunningham counters by noting only individuals who were present during key moments participated in these chats-implying purposeful coordination of their stories.
• A message from Michael McLeod urging everyone “to say the same thing if we get interviewed” further supports allegations of orchestrated testimony.

defense’s Portrayal of Victim’s Behavior Challenged by Witnesses

The defense suggested E.M. acted aggressively toward some men but not others; however, testimonies from Raddysh and Katchouk contradict this narrative. They described E.M. as withdrawn and quiet early on-behavior inconsistent with being sexually assertive or coercive under those circumstances.

“The notion that alcohol transformed her from shy silence into someone aggressively pursuing sex while naked is entirely fabricated,” emphasized Cunningham during closing remarks.

Surveillance Footage captures Victim’s Distress After Incident

Uncontested hotel surveillance footage shows E.M., visibly upset and wiping away tears while waiting for an Uber outside Room 209 at Delta Hotel following the alleged event. The defense argued she cried due to sexual rejection or pressure to leave; however, Cunningham dismissed these explanations as stereotypical minimizations often used against survivors of sexual violence.

Clarifying Ride-Hailing App Pickup Location Questions

The defense questioned how E.M., claiming unfamiliarity with her location that night, could provide accurate details for an Uber ride home. The Crown clarified modern ride-hailing apps automatically detect pickup locations via GPS without requiring manual input-a fact unfamiliar even to justice Carroccia prior to today’s court description.

Civil Settlement Timeline Undermines Financial Motive Claims

E.M.’s civil lawsuit against Hockey Canada concluded swiftly between April and May 2022-well before any criminal charges surfaced-and resulted in a confidential settlement significantly less than her initial $3.55 million claim according to audited reports showing nearly $3 million paid across multiple settlements nationwide between 2021-2022 involving hockey organizations.
Legal counsel representing E.M. affirmed she had no monetary incentive influencing participation in criminal proceedings:

“She had nothing left financially when police reopened investigations… Her involvement reflects commitment toward preserving our national sport’s integrity rather than personal gain.”

Cultural Reflections Raised By Legal Proceedings

• This case prompts broader discussions about expected conduct behind closed doors among elite athletes;
• It questions whether hockey culture tolerates inappropriate behavior off-ice;

Lunch Break Announced Amid Adjusted Trial Schedule

The court recessed until approximately 14:15 ET with plans modified so closing arguments may continue into tomorrow morning followed immediately by defense responses-the final day marking completion of eight weeks allocated for trial proceedings overall.

No Major Variations Found In Victim’s Account Over Time