Jury Selection Restarts for Sexual Assault Trial of 5 Ex-World Junior Hockey Players

Jury selection resumed today for the sexual assault trial of five former world junior hockey players accused of assaulting a woman in a hotel room back in 2018. The case involves Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, and Michael McLeod, all of whom have once again pleaded not guilty in Superior Court.

Earlier in the day, the judge declared a mistrial in proceedings that had started earlier this week after the court had already selected a jury. A publication ban prevents the release of the reasons for the mistrial. As a result, the court began new jury selection, questioning a pool of about 200 potential jurors for impartiality.

What Led to the Mistrial?

The original trial, which began on Tuesday, was abruptly halted after a judge declared a mistrial. The reasons behind the mistrial remain sealed under a publication ban. However, the legal proceedings will now move forward with new jurors. The trial is expected to last about eight weeks.

The court accuses the five former hockey players of sexually assaulting a woman, referred to as E.M., at a hotel in London in 2018. This occurred after a gala event celebrating Canada’s world junior hockey team’s gold medal win. Each player faces one charge of sexual assault. McLeod faces an additional charge of being a party to the offence.

Judge’s Instructions to New Jurors

Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia addressed the new jury pool today, reminding potential jurors of their duty to remain unbiased. “Bias has no place in a trial,” she emphasized. The court questioned jurors about any pretrial knowledge they might have about the case and whether they could set aside any biases toward hockey players, sexual assault, or other aspects related to the case. The judge instructed jurors to base their verdict solely on the evidence presented in court.

The Accused and Their Careers

At the time of the incident, the five players were part of the National Hockey League (NHL) or playing overseas. McLeod and Foote were with the New Jersey Devils, Dubé was with the Calgary Flames, Hart played for the Philadelphia Flyers, and Formenton was playing in Switzerland. Since the charges were laid, Hart left the NHL, while the others continued their professional careers in various international leagues.

What Happens Next?

Once the court selects the new jury, it will instruct them on their responsibilities, and the trial will officially begin with opening statements from the Crown. The process will continue with the presentation of evidence and testimonies, as the court seeks to determine whether the accused are guilty of the charges against them.

What are your thoughts on the jury selection process in high-profile cases like this? How do you think pretrial publicity impacts impartiality? Share your opinions in the comments below!

More…

• https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/after-mistrial-jury-selection-restarts-for-new-sexual-assault-trial-for-5-ex-world-junior-hockey-players-1.7518650
• https://www.overheretoronto.com/mistrial-declared-in-sexual-assault-case-involving-former-world-junior-hockey-players