Canadian Court Acquits Former Junior Hockey Players of Assault
Former members of the 2018 Team Canada World Junior hockey team were acquitted of sexual assault charges in a London, Ontario courtroom on March 14, 2024. The players, including Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, and Michael McLeod, faced allegations stemming from an incident in June 2018, where a woman identified as E.M. accused them of participating in a group sexual assault at a hotel.
The Ontario Superior Court presided over the trial, which concluded with Judge Maria Carroccia delivering her verdict nearly six weeks after the proceedings ended. The case was decided by the judge after the jury was dismissed due to allegations of improper conduct involving a member of the defense team.
In her ruling, Justice Carroccia stated that she could not rely on E.M.’s testimony, citing inconsistencies in her statements and a lack of credibility. She explained that E.M. exaggerated her level of intoxication and had opportunities to remove herself from the situation if she had chosen to do so.
“I conclude that I cannot rely on [her testimony],” Carroccia said during the court proceedings, according to reporters present in the courtroom. The judge emphasized that for a conviction of sexual assault in Canada, the prosecution, known as the Crown, must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that there was non-consensual sexual touching.
The focal point of the trial was the question of consent, particularly for all players except Foote. Justice Carroccia stated, “Having found that I cannot rely upon the evidence of E.M. and then considering the evidence in this trial as a whole, I conclude that the Crown cannot meet its onus on any of the counts before me.”
As of the latest season, none of the five players participated in the National Hockey League (NHL). At the time the allegations surfaced, McLeod and Dube were playing for the New Jersey Devils and Calgary Flames, respectively. Both players had since moved to play in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Carter Hart, who was associated with the Philadelphia Flyers, took an indefinite leave of absence prior to the expiration of his contract last summer.
The trial and its outcome have drawn significant attention, not just for the players involved but also for the broader implications regarding sexual assault allegations and the legal proceedings surrounding them. The case underscores the complexities and challenges faced in achieving a conviction in such sensitive matters, highlighting the importance of credible evidence and testimony in the courtroom.
