5 former members of Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey group have been acquitted of all prices Thursday in a sexual assault trial in London, Ontario.
Superior Courtroom Justice Maria Carroccia of the Ontario Courtroom of Justice stated she did not discover the complainant’s proof “credible or dependable.”
“I can’t depend upon 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 stated.
Carter Hart, Cal Foote, Dillon Dube, Alex Formenton and Michael McLeod have been charged with sexual assault in reference to an incident in a London resort in June 2018. McLeod additionally confronted a second cost of being get together to the offense. He was discovered not responsible of that as nicely.
The accuser alleged that she willingly accompanied McLeod to the resort. 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 during which the girl stated that the occasions within the resort room have been “all consensual.” The choose additionally famous that she had consensual intercourse with not less than one of many gamers beforehand that evening.
“On this case, I’ve discovered precise consent not vitiated by concern,” Carroccia stated.
The information Thursday comes after Carroccia beforehand declared a mistrial and dismissed two separate juries. These choices in the end left the costs to be adjudicated by the choose.
Formenton is a former NHL ahead at present taking part in in Switzerland, whereas the opposite 4 have been energetic 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 present them qualifying affords, 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.
–Discipline Stage Media
