LONDON, Ontario — A judge has ruled in the high-profile sexual assault trial involving five former members of Canada’s world junior hockey team, stating that she found the complainant’s testimony lacking in credibility. Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia announced her decision, although she has yet to finalize the charges against each of the accused players.
The accused — Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, and Callan Foote — have all pleaded not guilty to sexual assault stemming from an incident that allegedly occurred in a hotel room on June 19, 2018. McLeod faces an additional charge of being an accessory to the crime, a charge that is more commonly associated with homicide cases.
At the time of the incident, the players were in London for a gala and golf tournament celebrating their championship victory. The case has been mired in controversy and speculation, fueled by a series of legal actions, including a lawsuit settlement and multiple investigations by police, Hockey Canada, and the NHL. The complexity of the trial also involved a mistrial, which resulted in a jury being dismissed and left the final ruling in Carroccia’s hands.
The complainant testified in May, explaining that she felt vulnerable and frightened when four of the men entered her hotel room unexpectedly. She described her state as intoxicated and claimed that she felt the only choice was to comply with their advances. Prosecutors asserted that the players failed to ensure she was consenting to any sexual activity.
Defense attorneys spent several days cross-examining the woman, suggesting that she had willingly engaged in sexual activity in pursuit of a “wild night.” Despite having recordings from the night in question, where the complainant appeared to express consent, she insisted that those moments did not reflect her true feelings about what transpired.
On the day of the judge’s ruling, a group of protesters gathered outside the courthouse, voicing support for the complainant as the courtroom was filled to capacity.
The case has emerged from years of silence surrounding the allegations. Initially, the police investigation concluded without charges in early 2019. However, the complainant filed a lawsuit against Hockey Canada in 2022, which culminated in a settlement. This revelation sparked widespread scrutiny, leading to the reopening of the police investigation.
The identities of the players became public when they were charged in early 2024. At that time, four of the men were actively playing in the NHL. However, following the allegations, all players took indefinite leave and have since been removed from active rosters.
The NHL has conducted its own investigation into the matter and has indicated its intentions to make the findings public, although discussions of legal implications might delay this release.
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