Sunday, February 22, 2026
ADVT 
National

Defence lawyers continue submissions at hockey players' sex assault trial

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 10 Jun, 2025 11:30 AM
  • Defence lawyers continue submissions at hockey players' sex assault trial

Defence lawyers for five former members of Canada's world junior hockey team are continuing to hammer at the credibility of the complainant as they make final submissions at the players' sexual assault trial.

A lawyer representing Alex Formenton is arguing that video evidence from the bar where the woman first encountered several of the players contradicts her testimony that she was plied with alcohol and separated from her friends, and that she was extremely intoxicated.

Daniel Brown has repeatedly argued the woman lied or embellished in her testimony, and that her account of what happened evolved over time.

Court heard submissions Monday from lawyers representing Michael McLeod and Carter Hart. 

McLeod's lawyer, David Humphrey, argued the complainant has presented an "entirely unbelievable and unreliable" version of the events at the heart of the trial.

McLeod, Hart, Formenton and their former teammates Dillon Dube and Callan Foote have pleaded not guilty to sexual assault

McLeod has also pleaded not guilty to an additional charge of being a party to the offence of sexual assault.

The charges relate to an encounter with a woman in a London, Ont., hotel room in June 2018, at a time when many of the team's members were in town for events celebrating their championship win.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nicole Osborne

MORE National ARTICLES

Mounties warn of armed robbery suspects west of Edmonton

Mounties warn of armed robbery suspects west of Edmonton
An emergency alert has been issued in an area west of Edmonton for two armed men. Mounties say the men are on foot after a robbery.

Mounties warn of armed robbery suspects west of Edmonton

2 arrested in weapons related incident

2 arrested in weapons related incident
Mounties in Squamish say two people have been arrested in what they are calling a weapons related incident near Government Road and Garibaldi Way on Sunday. They say a victim was brought to the hospital with non-life-threatening-injuries.

2 arrested in weapons related incident

Suspects speed away in stolen pickup truck as owner, friend bounce around in back

Suspects speed away in stolen pickup truck as owner, friend bounce around in back
The owner of a pickup truck was injured along with his friend after they jumped into the back of the vehicle as it was being stolen and were launched out when it crashed. Winnipeg police say the truck owner saw his Ford F150 being stolen Saturday evening and, along with the friend, got in the box of the truck and called 911.

Suspects speed away in stolen pickup truck as owner, friend bounce around in back

Another incumbent BC United MLA to run as Independent as Kirkpatrick re-enters race

Another incumbent BC United MLA to run as Independent as Kirkpatrick re-enters race
An incumbent BC United legislative member has reversed her decision not to seek re-election and has announced she'll run as an Independent in the riding of West Vancouver-Capilano in the upcoming British Columbia election. Karin Kirkpatrick has been a vocal critic of BC United Leader Kevin Falcon's decision last month to suspend the party's campaign and throw support behind the B.C. Conservatives under John Rustad.

Another incumbent BC United MLA to run as Independent as Kirkpatrick re-enters race

B.C. mayors seek 'immediate action' from governments on mental health crisis

B.C. mayors seek 'immediate action' from governments on mental health crisis
At a news conference Monday, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim and several other politicians from around B.C. announced the request to senior levels of government, touting a letter sent to Premier David Eby and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling for action on "three critical fronts." 

B.C. mayors seek 'immediate action' from governments on mental health crisis

Liberals announce expansion to mortgage eligibility, draft rights for renters, buyers

Liberals announce expansion to mortgage eligibility, draft rights for renters, buyers
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has announced changes to mortgage rules she says are aimed at helping more Canadians to purchase their first home. The government will also expand its 30-year mortgage amortization to include first-time homebuyers buying any type of home, as well as anybody buying a newly built home.

Liberals announce expansion to mortgage eligibility, draft rights for renters, buyers