None of accused in attendance as hockey sex assault case begins
Chief apologizes to woman for delay in charges
• None of the five Canadian world junior hockey players charged with sexual assault were present in a London, Ont., court on Monday morning as their cases first came before a justice of the peace, who adjourned the matter until April 30.
The players — four are now Nhlers, one is playing pro in Europe — are each charged with sexual assault in connection with an incident at a downtown London hotel in June 2018 after Canada's world junior champs reunited for a Hockey Canada fundraising gala in the city.
The accused are Dillon Dube, 25, of Calgary; Cal Foote, 25, of Denver, Colo.; Alex Formenton, 24, of Barrie, Ont.; Carter Hart, 25, of Cherry Hill, N.J.; and Michael Mcleod, 25, of Mississauga, Ont. Mcleod is charged with an additional count of sexual assault “by being a party to the offence.”
At a Monday press conference, London Police Chief Thai Truong said the charges came from a review ordered in 2022 by then-chief Steve Williams. Truong used the term “victim” in accordance with her wishes, as opposed to, say, “complainant” in his remarks. The initial probe was closed without charges in 2019. Upon review “we have found sufficient grounds” to criminally charge five men, Truong said.
“I know there are questions regarding the initial investigations and the findings of the 2022 (police investigation) review. As the chief of police, while I am committed to transparency and accountability, I must ensure I don't compromise the judicial process. There is a time to disclose those answers. That time is now.”
Truong added: “My sincerest apology to the victim, to her family, for the amount of time it has taken to reach this point.”
Justice of the Peace Elizabeth Oudekerk oversaw Monday's court date, a first appearance, which was one of several that will occur in the early stages of the case. Lawyers can represent people accused of crimes at routine court appearances like this one. It could be 2026 before the trial begins, legal experts have said.
Assistant Crown attorney Heather Donkers told the court that “the vast majority” of disclosure, evidence the Crown and police have collected, will be sent to the defence lawyers on Monday.
“We are anxious to get the evidence the Crown has,” said Daniel Brown, lawyer for Formenton. Brown added that he wants the case “expedited.”
ESPN, Fox News and the New York Times were among the media outlets watching the proceedings via Zoom. It was something of a circus outside the courthouse, with reporters waiting to see if any of the accused would show up.
Lawyers for the accused have said they are planning to fight the charges in court.
A woman, 18 at the time and identified in a $3.5-million civil lawsuit as E.M., alleged that several elite Canadian teen hockey players, including members of the gold medal-winning 2018 world junior team, sexually assaulted her in a room at the Delta London Armouries hotel in June 2018 following a gala fundraiser for Hockey Canada. Officials with Hockey Canada settled the lawsuit, setting off a fierce public scandal.