All 5 players acquitted in Hockey Canada assault case

Five Members of Canada's 2018 World Junior Hockey Team Acquitted of Sexual Assault Charges

Five members of Canada's 2018 world junior hockey team were found not guilty of sexual assault on Thursday by Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia. The players acquitted were Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dubé, and Cal Foote. They had been charged in connection to an alleged incident in June 2018 involving a woman known as E.M., who accused them of sexual assault in a hotel room in London, Ont.

Justice Carroccia stated that the Crown had not proven its case and found the evidence of the complainant not credible or reliable. The Crown has 30 days to appeal the decision. The trial, which lasted nearly six weeks, concluded with the players' families showing relief and emotions in the courtroom.

The case revolved around events at a hotel in June 2018, where E.M. alleged that after consensual sex with McLeod, she was pressured into engaging in sexual activity with his teammates without her consent. The defense argued that E.M. was the instigator of the group sex. Carroccia highlighted inconsistencies in E.M.'s testimony and questioned her memory gaps and assumptions.

E.M.'s lawyer expressed disappointment with the verdict and Carroccia's assessment. She emphasized the need for change in the justice system and institutional leadership to prevent sexual violence. Supporters of E.M., including survivors of sexual violence, gathered outside the courthouse during the trial. The outcome of the case has sparked discussions about the justice system and societal structures related to sexual violence prevention.