In brief
An Ontario judge has acquitted five Canadian ice hockey players—Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, and Carter Hart—of sexual assault charges stemming from an incident in a hotel room during a Hockey Canada gala in 2018. The trial, which lasted eight weeks and drew widespread media attention, concluded with Justice Maria Carroccia finding the alleged victim's testimony unreliable and inconsistent. The central debate revolved around whether or not consent had been given on the night of the incident.
Justice Carroccia emphasized the gaps in the woman's evidence, stating, "the Crown cannot meet its onus on any of the counts before me." The judge noted discrepancies in the victim's statements when compared against video evidence, which although did not constitute consent, portrayed her as coherent and not in distress. The prosecution has yet to announce if they will appeal the ruling, as they express dissatisfaction with the outcome while reiterating the importance of a fair trial for all parties involved.
