Ontario, Ontario, on Friday for the trial of five former worldwide hockey players, accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel room in 2018.
Early in the day, the judge declared a null trial, establishing the need for the new trial.
Michael McLeod, Dillon Dubé, Cal Foot, Carter Hart and Alex Formenton face a position of sexual assault. McLod faces an additional count of being part of a crime.
For the second time this week, the five men in turn with their defense team and firmly said: “not guilty”, when the Court asked for their supplication on Friday afternoon.
The case dates back to the summer of 2018, while they were in a London hotel after a gala that celebrated the victory of the gold team of the World Junior Hockey team months before.
The claimant’s identity is known in the Court as EM and is covered by a prohibition of publication, which is standard in cases of sexual aggression.
The judge of the Superior Court, Maria Carroccia, declared the null trial after the trial opened on Tuesday, when the initial jury was elected. The reasons for the null trial are covered by a publication prohibition. The process to choose new jurors began immediately after the judge thanked the original jury and dismissed.
“At the end of this case, it will be your responsibility to consider the evidence and my instructions, and decide whether the defendants are guilty or not guilty of the crimes they are accused of,” body told the new group of approximately 200 potential juries before the finals are selected. “You will be responsible for determining whether [the accused] It has been tested beyond a reasonable doubt. ”
The judge tells jurors that they do not discuss the case this weekend
Carroccia told the new jury, that he has nine women, five men and two alternatives, not to talk to anyone about the case during the weekend or do any investigation in this regard, including listening or reading news reports.
“Do not discuss anyone on this case. You can say that I have been selected as a jury, but that’s,” he said.
“If something happens that worries you over the weekend, put it in writing, put it in an envelope and give it to a court officer on Monday to give me. Do not discuss it with each other.”
The five accused men were at the same time in the NHL.
At the time the charges were announced, McLeod and Footo were with the New Jersey Devils, Dubé was with Calgary and Hart’s flames was with the Flyadelfia flyers. Formenton was signed by the Senators of Ottawa, but played in Switzerland.
Hart is not currently in sport, but McLeod and Dubé have been playing with Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) teams. Foots played in a Slovak hockey league this season and Formenton has indicated that he is working on the construction in Barrie, Ontario.
Proceedings that will begin on Monday morning
The judge asked the possible jurors if they have read prior publicity to the trial on the case and if they could get it out of their minds and remain impartial when they hear the evidence.
They were also asked if they know someone connected to the case, if they had a prior connection with sexual assault or if they have negative opinions of hockey players that prevent them from remaining impartial during the trial.
“You must reserve any prejudice to judge the evidence presented in the trial in a fair way. The bias does not take place in a trial,” body told the possible jurors. “Impartiality requires that you know your own personal experiences and be equally open to the opinions of others … It will be your duty to identify and put aside any prejudice and prejudice that a decision has to make in this case.”
The procedures will begin on Monday morning, when the judge will give short instructions on the jury’s responsibilities and then the crown will make opening statements. The Court will only sit over half a day due to federal elections.
