Similarly,
Canada junior team: crown will:
The crown will not appeal the acquittal of the five former team players Junior accused of sexual assault. Meanwhile, which could strengthen the fears of victims towards the judicial system.
“It ends a glimmer of hope that could remain for certain victims. For example, the judgment becomes final,” said Sophie Gagnon, lawyer and director general of the Juripop organization.
It reacted to the decision of the Ontario prosecutor’s office not to appeal the confirmed judgment in the Montreal Journal By the complainant’s lawyer. In addition, Karen Bellehumeur.
On July 24. judge Maria Carrocia had acquitted the hockeyers Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex forms, Cal Fote and Dillon to have sexually assaulted the young woman of 20 years in a hotel room in London, Ontario, after a watered evening in June 2018.
The five players participated that evening in a gala celebrating canada junior team: crown will their victory in the World Junior Hockey Championship. which occurred a few months ago.
“I can’t find the proof provided by EM [la plaignante] Credible or reliable, ”wrote Judge Carrocia in her judgment.
Reinforced fears
Me Gagnon notes on the ground that the judgment accentuated the fear of victims of sexual assault. not to be believed.
“This is what happened to the complainant,” she says.
However, it is not surprised by the crown decision.
“Going on appeal would have been a complex file to manage. The courts of appeal show very great deference to the judges of first instance. who chaired the trial and who heard the whole evidence, ”she explains.
Simon Roy, professor of law at the University of Sherbrooke, abounds in the same direction.
“It is a very detailed judgment based on facts and the court of appeal did not hear the witnesses. […] From the moment the canada junior team: crown will judge does not believe the victim, it ends there, ”he says.
Not a disavowal
Me Gagnon stresses that there should not be a disavowal of the crown towards the testimony of the complainant. but rather an “analysis of her chances of success”.
“We have a lot of work to do to ensure that this judgment does not come to change the case law. will not predict the fate of other files,” she believes.
The complainant’s consent had been at the heart of this highly publicized trial, which lasted two months.
Judge Carroccia had underlined numerous inconsistencies between the versions given to the police, in Hockey Canada and during the trial.
The trial was held before a judge alone after the jury was dissolved twice. The second time, some jurors claimed to have felt ridiculed by defense lawyers.
Almost a month after the judgment, the five players remain inadmissible to reintegrate canada junior team: crown will the National Hockey League (NHL).
With the QMI and Antoine Lacroix agency
Canada junior team: crown will
Further reading: Arrested because he had not introduced himself to the court, a Montrealers was also wanted for collective rape in Belgium – Of the proper use of the tribune of deputies – Worried about customs tariffs aimed at Canada, Wall Street is down – “Seriously” child injured: the police believed in an animal attack, a 17 -year -old teenager arrested – Quebec and Montreal know one of the worst air qualities in the world.