5 former members of Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey staff had been acquitted of all expenses Thursday in a sexual assault trial in London, Ontario.
Superior Court docket Justice Maria Carroccia of the Ontario Court docket of Justice mentioned she did not discover the complainant’s proof “credible or dependable.”
“I can’t depend on the proof of (the accuser) after which contemplating the proof on this trial as an entire, I conclude that the Crown can’t meet its onus on any of the counts earlier than me,” Carroccia mentioned.
Carter Hart, Cal Foote, Dillon Dube, Alex Formenton and Michael McLeod had been charged with sexual assault in reference to an incident in a London lodge in June 2018. McLeod additionally confronted a second cost of being social gathering to the offense. He was discovered not responsible of that as nicely.
The accuser alleged that she willingly accompanied McLeod to the lodge. She contended that McLeod invited his teammates to his room after which joined the gamers in an alleged sexual assault over a number of hours.
Carroccia cited movies filmed by McLeod by which the girl mentioned that the occasions within the lodge room had been “all consensual.” The decide additionally famous that she had consensual intercourse with a minimum of one of many gamers beforehand that night time.
“On this case, I’ve discovered precise consent not vitiated by worry,” Carroccia mentioned.
The information Thursday comes after Carroccia beforehand declared a mistrial and dismissed two separate juries. These choices finally left the fees to be adjudicated by the decide.
Formenton is a former NHL ahead at present enjoying in Switzerland, whereas the opposite 4 had been lively NHL gamers who had taken paid leaves of absences from their groups. Their respective groups parted methods with them in June 2024 by failing to offer them qualifying gives, thus making them free brokers.
McLeod, 27, performed for the New Jersey Devils, whereas Hart, 26, was a No. 1 goaltender for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Dube, 27, performed with the Calgary Flames and Foote, 26, performed for 3 NHL groups, principally not too long ago the Devils.
–Area Stage Media