Howden breaks down during testimony at hockey sexual assault trial
May 23, 2025
Howden breaks down during testimony at hockey sexual assault trial
5 comments
The judge ruled Howden’s text messages are inadmissible. The implication’s for Dubé are huge and the five accused may get away with what they did. Now all witnesses just have to be avoidant at best to dishonest. Imo Howden made the wrong choice in keeping mum and Howden is morally corrupt. Howden had testified he didn’t recall how he was feeling when he saw the slap happen, but Cunningham said that Howden, in previous statements, had said he felt that smack was “drawing a line for me to leave” and that was what “pushed me out the door.”
But Howden did not help EM even just to say guys chill. He testified he was scared and left
In a 2018 text message from Howden to world junior teammate Taylor Raddysh he wrote: “Dude, I’m so happy I left when all the shit went down. Ha ha.” And then he says: “Man, when I was leaving, Duber was smacking this girl’s ass so hard. Like, it looks like it hurts so bad.”
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I agree, conviction seems unlikely. However, whether or not the texts can be considered as evidence in a criminal trial, they are certainly not flattering to some of the accused. While they may not be proven guilty of a crime, I don’t think any of them will be easily able to revive their reputations.
What was consented to and what was not may never be known, but whatever transpired in that hotel room draws into question their moral culpability and character. Howden breaking down on the stand and the content of the texts he sent at the time are clear indications that he at least knew what was going on was wrong. It is unfortunate he is now having memory recall issues which conveniently helps the accused. The judge is best able to assess and make determinations around how his texts can be used in light of his fading memory so I won’t second guess her on that. She has said they can’t be used which, in the context of a criminal trial, I understand. However, his ability not to remember details now leaves the impression that the conspiracy of silence will win the day. The culture in hockey and any other sport or organization (church, fraternity, etc) in which abuse occurs and is then hidden by the silence of others really needs to change.
This is such a shit show and not a great look for Howden, even worse look for VGK after signing the 5-year extension back in December if there was even a sniff that he was a part of this. McCrimmon hinted at changes being made in the roster with a lot of UFA and spots needing to be filled, I wouldn’t be surprised if Vegas tries to put Howden in package with other players to trade if the organization doesn’t want to be a part of this. If not, it’s going to be awkward as hell to see him on ice next season.
I will play devils advocate here. He was 18 years old. When all of us were 18, we didn’t make the best choices and there are many things in my young life I wish I could redo. Right now in my life I would never let this go down if I observed what was going on. I would be fully involved in stopping it. We don’t know how much howden saw besides that text. But at 18 years old, my instincts would probably be “I’m getting out of here because I see where this might go” and regret it later when I heard what followed. Was he there for all of this? Did he leave before it got out of control? I’m sure he regrets not acting in a proper active manner now as by his emotions on the stand. I think we should reserve judgment on everyone , especially howden until all the evidence is in. I am not defending these players at all. Even at 18, I would never ever participate in anything remotely like this but at 18, I would hope I would prevent it but I honestly don’t know and we still don’t know ourselves if she was too drunk to make consensual decisions(probably not)or if it was 100 percent consensual. Regardless, they were depraved 18 year olds at best. But as far as Howden goes I don’t think I would be to judgmental at this time.
5 comments
The judge ruled Howden’s text messages are inadmissible. The implication’s for Dubé are huge and the five accused may get away with what they did. Now all witnesses just have to be avoidant at best to dishonest. Imo Howden made the wrong choice in keeping mum and Howden is morally corrupt. Howden had testified he didn’t recall how he was feeling when he saw the slap happen, but Cunningham said that Howden, in previous statements, had said he felt that smack was “drawing a line for me to leave” and that was what “pushed me out the door.”
But Howden did not help EM even just to say guys chill. He testified he was scared and left
In a 2018 text message from Howden to world junior teammate Taylor Raddysh he wrote: “Dude, I’m so happy I left when all the shit went down. Ha ha.” And then he says: “Man, when I was leaving, Duber was smacking this girl’s ass so hard. Like, it looks like it hurts so bad.”
[removed]
I agree, conviction seems unlikely. However, whether or not the texts can be considered as evidence in a criminal trial, they are certainly not flattering to some of the accused. While they may not be proven guilty of a crime, I don’t think any of them will be easily able to revive their reputations.
What was consented to and what was not may never be known, but whatever transpired in that hotel room draws into question their moral culpability and character. Howden breaking down on the stand and the content of the texts he sent at the time are clear indications that he at least knew what was going on was wrong. It is unfortunate he is now having memory recall issues which conveniently helps the accused. The judge is best able to assess and make determinations around how his texts can be used in light of his fading memory so I won’t second guess her on that. She has said they can’t be used which, in the context of a criminal trial, I understand. However, his ability not to remember details now leaves the impression that the conspiracy of silence will win the day. The culture in hockey and any other sport or organization (church, fraternity, etc) in which abuse occurs and is then hidden by the silence of others really needs to change.
This is such a shit show and not a great look for Howden, even worse look for VGK after signing the 5-year extension back in December if there was even a sniff that he was a part of this. McCrimmon hinted at changes being made in the roster with a lot of UFA and spots needing to be filled, I wouldn’t be surprised if Vegas tries to put Howden in package with other players to trade if the organization doesn’t want to be a part of this. If not, it’s going to be awkward as hell to see him on ice next season.
I will play devils advocate here. He was 18 years old. When all of us were 18, we didn’t make the best choices and there are many things in my young life I wish I could redo. Right now in my life I would never let this go down if I observed what was going on. I would be fully involved in stopping it. We don’t know how much howden saw besides that text. But at 18 years old, my instincts would probably be “I’m getting out of here because I see where this might go” and regret it later when I heard what followed. Was he there for all of this? Did he leave before it got out of control? I’m sure he regrets not acting in a proper active manner now as by his emotions on the stand. I think we should reserve judgment on everyone , especially howden until all the evidence is in. I am not defending these players at all. Even at 18, I would never ever participate in anything remotely like this but at 18, I would hope I would prevent it but I honestly don’t know and we still don’t know ourselves if she was too drunk to make consensual decisions(probably not)or if it was 100 percent consensual. Regardless, they were depraved 18 year olds at best. But as far as Howden goes I don’t think I would be to judgmental at this time.