Hockey Canada sexual assault trial to be decided today

The rulings today come after a tumultuous 8-week trial

This case has been ongoing for years. In that time, it’s been riddled with investigative issues and procedural hurdles.

In court, there was a mistrial within the first week and a new jury had to be selected after a defence lawyer and a juror interacted during one lunch break.

The complainant, E.M., spent nine days in the witness box early in the proceedings. Crown prosecutors asked her to recount the night in question in graphic detail and the subsequent investigations before each man’s defence team had an opportunity for gruelling cross-examination.

Following that, a second jury was sent home after one juror accused one of the defence teams of mocking them.

After that, Carroccia and the lawyers agreed to move forward with a judge-alone trial – a decision the Crown felt was prejudicial because they had presented their case as though it would be a jury deciding, not a judge.