Hart, McLeod, Dube, Foote, Formenton charged with sexual assault

[The Original FFIV]

Layman’s view here is the crown witnesses didn’t help the crowns case, rather torpedoed it. Can’t believe you would call witnesses that muddied the version of events.

[GioforPM]

The judge went further than she needed to - could have just said insufficient evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. But she went further and said the complainant lacked credibility. A little surprising to me.

I think the Crown messed this case up.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

The judge went further than she needed to - could have just said insufficient evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. But she went further and said the complainant lacked credibility. A little surprising to me.

I think the Crown messed this case up.

I thought this as well and posted as much in this thread.

I kept waiting for the Crown to introduce something helpful and it just never happened.

[Aarongavey]

There is literally no reason to take sexual assault complaints to the criminal justice system, just file civil cases.

[YYC in LAX]

Objectively the right decision. She loved it. Shamed by her mom.

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

The judge went further than she needed to - could have just said insufficient evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. But she went further and said the complainant lacked credibility. A little surprising to me.

I think the Crown messed this case up.

I suspect that the two mistrials, and preparing for a jury presentation completely threw the Crown off-track. Although IANAL I'm pretty sure that the style and manner of presentation of evidence would be totally different between the two...


I still think they're scumbags. That none of them had the balls to stand up and say anything is mind-blowing to me. Buncha horny teenagers with more body than brains.

[Regorium]

Could it just be there wasn't anything actually helpful?

This was a pretty doomed case from the start once the hard evidence (texts, video etc.) became available.

[Funkhouser]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Well that’s a set-back for victims.

Or a step forward for those falsely accused?

In this case, I will trust the judge.

None of us were there, but if we take the evidence/testimony from all parties into account - I think that EM did provide consent numerous times throughout the night and regretted the events after.

While the boys may have acted morally reprehensible, I don't believe their actions were with the intention to assault or rape EM. I do believe they were falsely accused and have had their careers ruined as a result.

But what do I know. Probably not much.

[TheIronMaiden]

What a circus, atleast some good came from it, by having conservations about consent.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

There is literally no reason to take sexual assault complaints to the criminal justice system, just file civil cases.

48 per cent of sexual assault cases in Canada that make it to court result in convictions. The length of time between the alleged incident and when it’s reported to police has a large impact on the conviction rate.

[Roof-Daddy]

Women love sex as much as men, but if they are open about it they are "slut shamed" in our society. That's unfortunate because it can lead to instances like this where a handful of careers and reputations are completely ruined and still will be despite the not guilty ruling.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I thought this as well and posted as much in this thread.

I kept waiting for the Crown to introduce something helpful and it just never happened.

Maybe there wasn’t anything helpful.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

The judge went further than she needed to - could have just said insufficient evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. But she went further and said the complainant lacked credibility. A little surprising to me.

I think the Crown messed this case up.

If she thought that complainant lacked credibility, then she should say that in her statement because the public deserves to know all the reasons.

Based on what was reported, I agree with her.

[Goriders]

Lots of bad decision making that night that effected a lot of lives go forward.

Hopefully helps others down the road. But considering how busy the legal system is and knowing humans I doubt it will.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Women love sex as much as men, but if they are open about it they are "slut shamed" in our society. That's unfortunate because it can lead to instances like this where a handful of careers and reputations are completely ruined and still will be despite the not guilty ruling.

Despite a possible not guilty verdict, the behaviour of the players is still questionable at best and something they should be ashamed of. I don't think they should be stripped of their ability to work again but if I'm an employer I'm not interested in hiring any of those involved as I wouldn't want any of them representing my company.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Hope the NHL steps in and bars teams from signing any of these guys.

Looking directly at you Edmonton.

Doubt they can do that. Legally.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Well that’s a set-back for victims.

Guess the judge didn’t think she was a victim. She more or less said that.

[Sofa GM]

Zero question that Edmonton will sign Hart, potentially even Dube to league mins. Stan sells it how he was given a second chance so he thinks he needs to pay it forward.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Despite a possible not guilty verdict, the behaviour of the players is still questionable at best and something they should be ashamed of. I don't think they should be stripped of their ability to work again but if I'm an employer I'm not interested in hiring any of those involved as I wouldn't want any of them representing my company.

Pretty well this, the players will still suffer consequences for their morally questionable behavior.

[Goriders]

Will be very interesting to see if any of these guys get back into the nhl. My guess is if they remain in pro hockey it will be in Europe or the KHL. Maybe the NHL if there’s a cooling off period.