Questions about possible prayers
The five men in court declared themselves innocent of a position of sexual aggression; Michael McLeod is the only one who faces a second position, and declared himself innocent to be part of the crime.
We have had some consultations about the possible sanctions for any conviction. (If someone is convicted, it is only Judge María Carroccia).
We put the question of possible sentences to a couple of legal experts that are not involved in this trial.
They say the sentence is a highly individualized process.
The sentences could vary, depending on the circumstances of the crime and the offender.
For sexual aggression, everything is available, from an absolute download to the federal prison, says Sarah Leamon, a criminal defense lawyer who observes the trial from Vancouver.
For sexual aggressions that involve penetration, the typical starting point is two years less a day in jail, he adds.
In the case of McLeod, it could only be convicted of the second position of being part of the crime if someone else is convicted of sexual assault, and then, the sentence (for being convicted of being part of the crime) could begin at six to 12 months in prison, says Nick Cake, a former crown who is now a criminal defense lawyer in London.
In the case of World Junior Case, if someone is convicted of sexual assault, says Cake, the crown will probably seek a penitentary sentence of two years or more, while a conviction that involves oral sex would be at least two years.
There is no minimal sentence for sentences of sexual aggression in this case because EM was not less at the time of the alleged crime. The maximum penalty would be 14 years in prison.
All crimes (which fall under the Criminal Code) qualify for anything, from a discharge to custody, including a conditional sentence order (house arrest), says Cake.
