Tuesday marked the first day of a high-profile trial involving five former members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior hockey team. Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, and Cal Foote are facing serious charges in connection with an alleged sexual assault that happened after a Hockey Canada event in London, Ontario, in June 2018.
What the Trial Is About
The five men are accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel room after a gala hosted by Hockey Canada. The woman, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, is being referred to as E.M. during the trial. Each of the five players is charged with one count of sexual assault. McLeod faces an extra charge of being a party to the offence.
All five pleaded not guilty when they appeared in court on Tuesday morning.
Inside the Courtroom
The courtroom was quiet and serious, with each player seated at separate tables alongside their lawyers. From front to back, the order was McLeod, Hart, Formenton, Dube, and Foote. Although there were a few polite smiles, the mood was mostly tense.
After the players entered their not-guilty pleas, the Crown lawyer, Meaghan Cunningham, read out a list of potential witnesses. These include several players from the same junior team, some of whom are currently playing in the NHL and are part of this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs.
Potential Witnesses Include Current NHL Stars
Some of the names mentioned as potential witnesses are well-known NHL players like Drake Batherson (Ottawa Senators), Taylor Raddysh (Washington Capitals), Robert Thomas (St. Louis Blues), Sam Steel (Dallas Stars), Brett Howden (Vegas Golden Knights), and Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche). Since many of them are still actively playing, they may give their testimony through live video if needed.
Jury Selection Process
A major part of Tuesday’s session was dedicated to picking the jury. Justice Maria Carroccia, the judge leading the trial, reminded everyone that serving as a juror is a very serious civic duty.
Each person called to serve on the jury was asked several questions to make sure they could be fair and unbiased, especially given the attention this case has received and the fact that it involves popular hockey players.
By the end of the day, 14 people were chosen—11 women and 3 men. Two of these are alternate jurors, in case someone on the main jury can’t continue during the trial.
What’s Next
The trial will continue on Wednesday with opening statements from both sides. This trial is expected to attract a lot of public and media attention due to the people involved and the seriousness of the charges.
It’s a very difficult and emotional case, and everyone involved—especially the alleged victim, the players, and their families—is going through a tough time. The court is now responsible for carefully listening to all evidence before reaching a fair verdict.
