Tuesday, February 3, 2026
ADVT 
National

Defence continues cross-examining complainant at hockey players' sex assault trial

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 09 May, 2025 11:03 AM
  • Defence continues cross-examining complainant at hockey players' sex assault trial

A woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted by five former members of Canada's world junior hockey team is facing more questions today on what happened at a downtown London, Ont., bar where she first encountered some of the accused.

The woman, who cannot be identified under a publication ban, has been on the stand since last Friday in the trial of Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote.

All five have pleaded not guilty to sexual assault, and McLeod has also pleaded not guilty to an additional charge of being a party to the offence of sexual assault.

defence lawyer for Formenton is cross-examining the woman today on the time she spent at Jack's bar on June 18, 2018, before leaving with McLeod to go to the hotel where he and his teammates were staying.

Court has heard McLeod and several other members of the 2018 world junior team went to the bar that night after attending a gala celebrating their championship victory.

The woman has testified that she and McLeod had sex in his hotel room, an encounter that is not part of the trial, and that she was naked and afraid when men she didn't know started coming into the room afterward.

She described going on "autopilot" and feeling like she was watching herself from outside her body as she engaged in sexual acts with the men.

The defence, meanwhile, has suggested the woman asked McLeod to call his friends into the room because she wanted a "wild night," and that she later invited the men to have sex with her.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nicole Osborne

MORE National ARTICLES

Spring, icy snow bring danger to B.C. backcountry, outdoor experts say

Spring, icy snow bring danger to B.C. backcountry, outdoor experts say
Spring is a dangerous time to head into British Columbia's backcountry, outdoor experts warn, as sun and warm daytime temperatures melt snowpack that can become hard and treacherously slippery as it freezes again overnight.

Spring, icy snow bring danger to B.C. backcountry, outdoor experts say

Hikers scramble for alternatives after damage shuts B.C.'s popular Juan de Fuca Trail

Hikers scramble for alternatives after damage shuts B.C.'s popular Juan de Fuca Trail
Trish Fougner still remembers the taste of the beer she enjoyed after completing the 47-kilometre Juan de Fuca Trailon Vancouver Island two years ago.

Hikers scramble for alternatives after damage shuts B.C.'s popular Juan de Fuca Trail

Bells toll, faithful gather in Toronto and Montreal to honour late Pope Francis

Bells toll, faithful gather in Toronto and Montreal to honour late Pope Francis
Catholic faithful gathered for multiple events in Toronto andMontreal to commemorate the late Pope Francis on Tuesday, a day the Archbishop of Toronto described as one of sadness but also thanks for a pontiff dedicated to building bridges andoffering compassion to marginalized groups.

Bells toll, faithful gather in Toronto and Montreal to honour late Pope Francis

Crews fight fire in downtown Vancouver as smoke spreads across city

Crews fight fire in downtown Vancouver as smoke spreads across city
Firefighters are fighting a large blaze in downtown Vancouverthat's sending a smoky haze and the smell of smoke acrossthe city. 

Crews fight fire in downtown Vancouver as smoke spreads across city

Poilievre defends economic growth projections in Conservative platform as 'essential'

Poilievre defends economic growth projections in Conservative platform as 'essential'
The Conservative leader was in Hamilton, Ont., on Wednesday, with just days to go before the federal vote on Monday and a day after he released the party's costed campaign platform.

Poilievre defends economic growth projections in Conservative platform as 'essential'

Sex assault trial begins for five former world junior hockey players

Sex assault trial begins for five former world junior hockey players
Prosecutors are laying out the evidence they expect to present as the sexual assault trial of five former members of Canada’s world junior hockey team begins in London, Ont., today.

Sex assault trial begins for five former world junior hockey players