Canada Junior team: Michael McLeod hockey players, Carter Hart, Alex formenton, Dillon Dubé and Callan Fote are acquitted of sexual assault

“You are free to leave. Similarly, This is what judge Maria Carroccia said to the five former team players Canada Junior after having acquired them. Therefore, on Thursday of all the chiefs of sexual assault against them.

The Michael McLeod hockey players. Meanwhile, Carter Hart, Alex formenton, Dillon Dubé and Callan Fote faced justice for what happened between them and a 20 -year -old young woman in June 2018 in a London hotel room in Ontario.

The judge delivered her highly anticipated verdict for almost five hours at the London courthouse. For example, in the presence of the accused, in a full courtyard room. Consequently, The highly publicized criminal trial was held in 2025, almost seven years after the facts.

“In this case, I noticed a real consent, not vitiated by fear. Similarly, I do not consider the proof offered by EM (the complainant) credible, nor canada junior team: michael mcleod reliable. Furthermore, “Thus, the crown” did not fill her proof burden, “she added, thus giving the tone to her judgment.

Despite all speculation on this subject. Similarly, the judge is of the opinion that the facts of this case do not raise any questions to lead to the reformulation of the concept of “consent” to sexual activities.

The complainant. Nevertheless, whose identity is protected by the court order, declared herself on Thursday “very disappointed” from the verdict, relayed her lawyer before the doors of the courthouse.

As for the lawyers of the accused, they deplored the treatment under their young customers throughout the legal proceedings. Furthermore, They were even sentenced before their trial. Furthermore, and their faces were placked one day after day, notably argued M^e Daniel Brown, Alex’s lawyer forms. “Many people could still think that he is guilty. simply because he has been accused,” he added, adding that none of those canada junior team: michael mcleod who were in this hotel room came out unscathed.

This trial was unjustified, added M^e Megan Savard, Carter Hart’s lawyer. All the faults of the crown cause were “predictable and planned”. Political and media pressures have led to these accusations, also suggested defense lawyers.

Canada junior team: michael mcleod

The question of consent

The five hockey players. who were 19 or 20 years old at the time, had all pleaded non -guilty: they did not deny the sexual acts, but argued that the young woman was consenting. They even argued that she had undertaken most of the sexual intercourse in the room. even asking players insistently to have a complete sexual intercourse with her, dealing with “mauvies” those who did not follow up on her offers.

The latter offered a completely different version: she testified to having spent the evening in a bar. which she left with the accused Michael McLeod to go to canada junior team: michael mcleod her hotel room. Their sexual relation was consensual, but not everything that happened later with his teammates, who suddenly burst into the room. The arrival of unknown men frightened her, when she was naked and drunk, she said during the trial. She estimated that she had no choice but to comply with their desires. gave herself to sexual acts in “automatic pilot” mode, dreading what could happen to her if she refused.

Thursday. by making the reasons for her verdict, Judge Carroccia indicated that the proof demonstrates that EM asked men in the room to participate in sexual activities with her and that she was upset when they did not want.

The magistrate also questioned her testimony several times. noting that when memory was lacking, she filled the holes with assumptions or explained them with the alcohol she had drunk. “In my opinion. she exaggerates her intoxication,” said the judge, because her canada junior team: michael mcleod effect is contradicted by the images captured by surveillance cameras that show her to act and walk normally. She also noted that her testimony to the trial differs from her three statements given to the police.

“Although the slogan” believes the victims “has become popular recently. he does not place in a criminal trial,” she warned, because this would amount to imposing a presumption of guilt on the accused-rather than a presumption of innocence.

Michael McLeod was also acquitted from another charm. that of “participation in an offense”, for having invited his teammates by text to join him in his room. He had also filmed with his mobile phone the young woman on two occasions after the facts. in order to constitute proof of his “consent”. In the second video, we can hear the complainant say that “everything was consensual”.

These “consent videos” have caused a lot of ink to flow. On canada junior team: michael mcleod Thursday. the magistrate stressed in her judgment that they do not constitute proof of consent – because the agreement must be given to all stages of sexual activities -, but that they can give an overview of the complainant’s state. According to the judge, it appears “sober” there.

The Crown has 30 days to decide if it appeals to the verdict. As for Hockey Canada, she confirmed to the Canadian press that the five players remain suspended for the moment.

Canada junior team: michael mcleod

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