Sunday, February 15, 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

Do you eat a meal in 20 minutes or less? It might be time to slow down

Do you eat a meal in 20 minutes or less? It might be time to slow down
Experts tend to focus on the kinds of foods you can eat to improve your health. But the speed at which you devour your dinner matters just as much. There are risks with eating too fast — think stuck food and the potential to overeat before your brain tells you to stop. (Inhaling your food also risks annoying your slower-paced dining companions or the person who took the time to cook your meal.)

Do you eat a meal in 20 minutes or less? It might be time to slow down

Bank of Canada holds key rate steady amid trade war, economic uncertainty

Bank of Canada holds key rate steady amid trade war, economic uncertainty
The Bank of Canada left its benchmark interest rateunchanged Wednesday as it waits to get a clearer picture ofhow global trade uncertainty is going to impact the Canadian economy.

Bank of Canada holds key rate steady amid trade war, economic uncertainty

Ontario to loosen internal trade, remove barriers on alcohol and labour mobility

Ontario to loosen internal trade, remove barriers on alcohol and labour mobility
Ontario has tabled legislation to make trade between provinces easier, as a way to shore up the economy against the effects of American tariffs.

Ontario to loosen internal trade, remove barriers on alcohol and labour mobility

Green Party co-leader says removal from leaders' debates is 'undemocratic'

Green Party co-leader says removal from leaders' debates is 'undemocratic'
The stage will look different than originally planned Wednesday night, when Canada's major party leaders square off in the first of two nationally televised debates.

Green Party co-leader says removal from leaders' debates is 'undemocratic'

Vancouver attacker accused of biting off security guard's finger tip: police

Vancouver attacker accused of biting off security guard's finger tip: police
Police in Vancouver say a man has been arrested and charged after he allegedly bit off the finger tip of a security guard during an attack downtown.

Vancouver attacker accused of biting off security guard's finger tip: police

Here's a list of March inflation rates for Canadian provinces

Here's a list of March inflation rates for Canadian provinces
Canada's annual inflation rate was 2.3 per cent in March, Statistics Canada says. Here's what happened in the provinces

Here's a list of March inflation rates for Canadian provinces