Not guilty on all charges.
This afternoon in a London courtroom, five members of Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team were found not guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in a London hotel room.
Justice Maria Carroccia advised that the evidence of the complainant, who was 20 at the time, was – quote – “not credible or reliable.”
As a result, the Crown had not met its burden to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Cal Foote had all pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.
McLeod was also found not guilty of being a party to the offence.
Justice Carroccia stressed, “The function of this court is to determine whether the Crown could indeed determine each of [the charges] beyond a reasonable doubt.”
To prove sexual assault, Carroccia said the Crown must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that:
There was touching.
The touching was sexual.
The sexual touching was not consensual.
The Crown has 30 days to file a notice of appeal.
Long-time women’s rights advocate Megan Walker of London had this reaction to the verdict.
She adds the results of this trial do not bode well for women who’ve been abused.
Walker tells myFM the men’s hockey culture in this country needs to change.
Written by Loreena Dickson and Ian McCallum
