Ex-Hockey Canada players found not guilty in sexual assault trial
STORY: Five members of Canada’s 2018 world junior ice hockey team have been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel room that year, in a trial that began in April and garnered national attention.
The charges against Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, Carter Hart and Cal Foote stemmed from an encounter in a hotel room in the Canadian city of London after a Hockey Canada event.
All five former National Hockey League players faced one count of sexual assault, while McLeod faced an additional count of being a party to an offense.
They all pleaded not guilty.
McLeod was also found not guilty of the additional charge.
According to CBC News, the judge told the courtroom that she did not find the complainant’s evidence to be “credible or reliable.”
She said the Crown failed to prove she did not consent to the sexual activity.
The complainant, who is known as E.M. due to a publication ban on her identity, was not in the courtroom on Thursday but watched remotely.
A lawyer for E.M., Karen Bellehumeur, said she had spoken with her client after the verdict.
“She’s obviously very disappointed with the verdict and very disappointed in her honor’s assessment of her honesty and reliability. She’s really never experienced not being believed like this before.”
Meanwhile, a lawyer for McLeod praised the verdict, and called it a “resounding vindication” for the defendants.
A Crown attorney told reporters they would “carefully review” the decision, but did not have further comments as the case is still within the appeal period.