In a shocking turn of events, five former members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior hockey team, including well-known players Michael McLeod, Dillon Dubé, Carter Hart, Cal Foote, and Alex Formenton, have been charged with sexual assault. The players have made the decision to proceed with a trial by jury, a move that has stirred up controversy and divided opinions among criminal lawyers not involved in the case.
The lawyers representing the accused players released a statement to TSN, expressing their confidence in the justice system and stating that they believe jurors from the community will handle the case fairly and impartially. The Globe and Mail was the first to report on this development, which took place during a court appearance in London, Ont. The players’ request to be tried together was granted, setting the stage for what promises to be a high-profile and closely watched trial.
Speculation abounds about whether a trial by judge or jury would be more advantageous for the players, but ultimately the decision has been made to go before a jury. A trial date has not yet been set, but it is expected to occur sometime in the spring, after much deliberation and preparation by both the defense and prosecution.
The allegations of sexual assault date back to June 2018, following a Hockey Canada event in London, Ont. A woman identified as E.M. in court documents claims that she agreed to leave a bar with one of the players and engage in consensual sexual activity, only for the situation to take a dark turn. London police have charged the players with sexual assault, with McLeod facing an additional charge for “being a party to the offence.”
In response to the charges, all five players have denied the accusations and are currently on leave from their professional teams. The potential repercussions of this trial, both legally and professionally, are yet to be fully realized, but one thing is clear: the outcome of this case will have far-reaching ramifications for not only the players involved, but for the entire hockey community as well.