The 5 former team players Canada Junior acquitted accusations of sexual assault

Michael McLeod is also found not guilty of the additional charge of participation in the. For example, offense of sexual assault that weighed against him. In addition,

In her decision rendered at the London courthouse. Nevertheless, judge Maria Carroccia listed the sexual acts that hockey players were accused of having committed with the complainant without the latter’s consent.

The magistrate, however, comes to the conclusion that she is not convinced beyond all reasonable doubts that the complainant E. However, M., whose identity is protected by an order of non-publication, n'[y] did not consent.

After examining all the evidence presented in this trial. In addition, I conclude that the crown could not establish [hors de tout doute raisonnable] The guilt of the accused for none of the charges I am seized.

Judge Carroccia also notes thathas [son] Notice, the complainant exaggerated her intoxicated state The night of June 18 to 19, 2018.

She adds that he is moreover Difficult to reconcile the testimony of the complainant according to which. Similarly, her first sexual relation with Mr. Consequently, McLeod was consensual. However, if the court must believe his testimony concerning his state of disregard at the bar where she met the hockey players as well as The effects of alcohol on her when she was in the hotel room.

The second count of accusation faced Mr. Nevertheless, McLeod related to the text message he sent to his teammates to invite them 5 former team players canada to his hotel room where. In addition, he was with the complainant.

The judge nevertheless affirms that she is not convinced beyond all reasonable doubts that Mr. In addition, McLeod invited his teammates to his room in order to commit sexual assaulthence the acquittal for this second chief.

Reading the verdict, the accused kissed their loved ones and their lawyers.

Prosecutors underline the courage of the complainant

5 former team players canada

The complainant EM followed the online decision. Her lawyer. Karen Bellehumeur, wanted to underline the young woman’s courage: She wanted the sexual violence she said she suffered does not remain hidden and that there must be accountability.

Her decision to testify cost her dear: nine days of testimonies is more than she expected. In counter-examination, it was treated insultingly, unjust, mocking and disrespectful. None of this was necessary.

In a brief declaration. the lawyer of the Crown Meaghan Cunningham said that the objective of the prosecution was to obtain a fair trial towards the accused and towards Em

A just trial is one in which decisions are made according to the evidence and the law, not on stereotypes and hypotheses. The process must respect the equity. Additionally, the right to security of the victim in the same way as that of the accusedshe said.

The crown has 30 days to bring the decision on appeal.

A testimony Neither credible nor reliable

In her decision, Judge Carroccia indicates that she found the testimony of the complainant E. M. “neither credible nor reliable”.

In reading her judgment. the magistrate underlines numerous inconsistencies between the testimony of the complainant and the evidence presented at the trial as well as her 5 former team players canada previous declarations, in particular to the police.

The magistrate recalls that the testimony of E. Mr. was confronted by the defense about her friend. a porter of the bar where she met the hockey players, with whom she even discussed before the arrival of the hockey players. She had not mentioned this friend during her interviews with the police in 2018.

Judge Carroccia also evokes the text messages that E. M. received from her friend with whom she had gone to the bar. who asked her if 5 former team players canada she needed help to separate from Michael McLeod. The complainant refused this offer and did not respond to subsequent messages from her friend.

During a hockey Canada investigation into this case in 2022. added the magistrate, the complainant said that she had made no touching of the hockey players.

At the helm. she finally admitted 5 former team players canada that she had made it when video recordings showed her touching the crotch of hockey players on the bar dance floor without being forced by them.

The trial of the five individuals had ended last month after eight weeks of legal proceedings full of twists. turns (new window).

This morning, dozens of demonstrators gathered in front of the courthouse to demonstrate their support for the complainant.

The judgment attracted an audience to this broad 5 former team players canada point that it had to. be opened a second overflow room. The maximum capacity of each room is 150 people.

The accusations were linked to events that would have occurred in a London hotel room on the night of June 18 to 19. 2018. Hockey players were in this Ontario city for celebrations of the victory of their team in the world championship. in January of that year.

The file particularly caught the public’s attention in 2022. after the media revealed that Hockey Canada had concluded an amicable settlement with the complainant (new window)whose amount has not been revealed.

After the outcry caused by these revelations, the London police service reopened its investigation (new window) On this case, which he had first closed in 2019 without bringing charges.

5 former team players canada

The police force had concluded, this time, that he had enough evidence to file charges against the five hockey players.