Defence to resume questioning woman in sexual assault trial for ex-Team Canada junior hockey players
- Cross-examination continues for the woman who has accused five members of Canada’s 2018 world juniors hockey team of sexual assault.
- Defence lawyers have asked E.M. about the alcohol she drank, the way she danced at the bar, her subsequent interactions with various investigators and her relationship with her now-fiancé.
- Counsel suggested she was “acting in a way” that led the men to believe she consented to sexual activity in 2018
- E.M. has maintained she felt she had no choice but to participate that night in London, Ont.
- Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, Michael McLeod have pleaded not guilty.
- WARNING: Court proceedings include graphic details of alleged sexual assault and might affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone who's been affected.
- Kate Dubinski
Lawyers are still discussing an issue.
The jury has been taken out of the room for the conversation, so we can’t report on what’s being said.
We will update this page once we’re back underway.
- Kate Dubinski
The proceedings for today have started.
The lawyers and judge are having a discussion about something without the jury being here, so it’s covered by a publication ban, meaning we can’t report what they’re talking about.
Supporters of E.M. gathered outside again this morning, shouting “Shame! Shame!” when some of the players and their lawyers walked into court.
We expect Savard to ask one more question this morning, and then the lawyers for Alex Formenton to begin their cross- examination.
- Rhianna Schmunk
Hart’s lawyer, Megan Savard, ended her cross-examination yesterday by questioning E.M. about two instances in which men were misidentified as potentially being involved in the alleged sexual assault.
E.M. said she did not intentionally mix up the players and she was becoming “flustered” when Savard continued to press her about the issue.
In the end, E.M. began to cry and asked to adjourn proceedings early for the day.
- Rhianna Schmunk
Carter Hart, right, is seen arriving at the courthouse in London, Ont., on April 30. His lawyer, Megan Savard, is on the left. (Nicole Osborne/The Canadian Press) Defence lawyers representing players on Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team will continue to cross-examine the complainant today.
Over the course of the week, counsel has grilled E.M. about her own conduct in London, Ont., in 2018. They have asked her how much alcohol she drank, how she danced at Jack’s bar and how she was “acting” in the hotel room during the alleged assault.
The lawyer representing Carter Hart, one of the accused, said her client and his teammates “assumed” E.M. consented to the group sexual activity at the Delta hotel because she was behaving in a certain “way” and putting on a “performance.” E.M. said she might have appeared to be OK in the room, but her body was on “autopilot” as she struggled to grasp what was happening to her.
E.M. said the men should have known she wasn’t agreeing to the sexual activity because she was outnumbered and heavily intoxicated.
The players – Hart, Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton and Michael McLeod – are on trial for sexual assault. They have all pleaded not guilty.
cbc.ca
