Wednesday, February 4, 2026
ADVT 
National

'It was all consensual,' woman says in video shown at hockey players' trial

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 30 Apr, 2025 11:19 AM
  • 'It was all consensual,' woman says in video shown at hockey players' trial

Holding a white towel against her body, a young woman smiles and looks into the camera.

"It was all consensual," she says before asking if she's being filmed.

"You are so paranoid ... I enjoyed it," she adds. "I am so sober that’s why I can’t do this right now.”

The short video, taken at the Delta hotel in London, Ont., at 4:26 a.m. on June 19, 2018, was one of a series of clips shownin quick succession Wednesday at the trial of Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote.

The five accused, who were on Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team, have all 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.

In another video, taken about an hour earlier, someone asks the woman twice if she is "OK with this." Both times, she agrees.

Prosecutors had referred to the videos, which they said were taken by McLeod, in their opening submissions to the jury on Monday. 

At the time, prosecutor Heather Donkers urged jurors to listen carefully to the complainant's testimony later in the trialregarding "what was happening before and during the recording of these videos." 

Donkers added the Crown plans to argue the videos are not evidence that the complainant did, in fact, consent.

Jurors were also shown Wednesday a screenshot of a group chat between members of the world junior team around 2:10 a.m. that day. In it, McLeod asks if anyone wants to be in a "three-way," then follows up with his hotel room number and Hart replies, "I'm in."

Prosecutors allege the complainant went with McLeod to his hotel room after they met at a downtown bar earlier in the night. Several members of the team were there after attending a Hockey Canada gala, court has heard.

At the hotel, McLeod and the complainant had sex — an encounter that is not part of the trial, court heard. 

Afterward, McLeod invited others into the room, with as many as 10 present at some point, the Crown alleges. In the hours that followed, a number of sexual acts took place without the woman's voluntary consent, the prosecution alleges.

CAUTION: The following paragraphs contain graphic content some readers may find disturbing.

The Crown alleges McLeod, Hart and Dube obtained oral sex from the complainant without her consent at some point during the night, and that Dube slapped the complainant's buttocks without her consent while she was engaged in a sexual act with someone else.

Formenton is alleged to have had vaginal sex with the complainant in the bathroom without her consent. Foote allegedly did the splits over the complainant's face while she lay on the ground, grazing his genitals over her face, without her consent.

The Crown alleges McLeod vaginally penetrated the complainant again at the end of the night, without her consent. It's also alleged he assisted and encouraged his teammates to engage in sexual acts with the complainant knowing she had not consented.

Also on Wednesday, court watched security video from the lobby of the hotel and from the bar where some of the playersand the complainant were earlier that evening.

The complainant, who was 20 at the time, cannot be identified under a standard publication ban.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nicole Osborne

MORE National ARTICLES

Carney’s move to kill carbon price now official but debate over it not dead

Carney’s move to kill carbon price now official but debate over it not dead
Prime Minister Mark Carney's move Friday to end the consumer carbon price has done little to put the long-standing political battle to rest. Rather, Carney's theatrical document signing led to another heated debate about whether the paper he signed was even a real thing.

Carney’s move to kill carbon price now official but debate over it not dead

Poilievre says he'll repeal carbon price law, including the industrial charge

Poilievre says he'll repeal carbon price law, including the industrial charge
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says that he will repeal the entire carbon price law if elected, including on businesses and the industrial charge. On Friday, Prime Minister Mark Carney began the process to end the consumer carbon price on things like gasoline. 

Poilievre says he'll repeal carbon price law, including the industrial charge

B.C. police watchdog called after RCMP shoot, injure man suspected of carrying a gun

B.C. police watchdog called after RCMP shoot, injure man suspected of carrying a gun
A statement from the RCMP says officers from Penticton had attempted to conduct a traffic stop for a person believed to be in possession of a gun on Saturday shortly after 4 p.m. Police stopped the vehicle, but they say the driver ran, leading to an "interaction" during which one officer shot the man.

B.C. police watchdog called after RCMP shoot, injure man suspected of carrying a gun

Man shot, injured in wooded area where he was living in Burnaby, B.C.: RCMP

Man shot, injured in wooded area where he was living in Burnaby, B.C.: RCMP
Police in Metro Vancouver say they're investigating a shooting that injured a 71-year-old man on Saturday. A statement from Burnaby RCMP says officers found the victim in a wooded area near Highway 1 and Willingdon Avenue, where the man was apparently living.

Man shot, injured in wooded area where he was living in Burnaby, B.C.: RCMP

Carney arrives in London for meetings with Starmer, King Charles

Carney arrives in London for meetings with Starmer, King Charles
Prime Minister Mark Carney is now in London as he continues the second half a one-day stop in Europe. Carney is to have a private meeting with King Charles before meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Carney arrives in London for meetings with Starmer, King Charles

Marathon Vancouver airport hotel strike ends after 1,411 days

Marathon Vancouver airport hotel strike ends after 1,411 days
Unite Here Local 40 says the 1,411-day strike was the longest in Canadian history and the agreement provides a pathway back to work for 143 workers terminated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the hotel was called Pacific Gateway. The union says in a statement the deal also provides job security protections and higher wages.

Marathon Vancouver airport hotel strike ends after 1,411 days