Crown rests case in sex assault trial involving five 2018 world junior players; Carter Hart called to testify

Prosecutors have wrapped up their case in the sexual assault trial of five members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior Championship team on Thursday, with Carter Hart called up to testify.

Hart was called to the stand this morning in the courtroom in London, Ontario.

Hart, along with other former NHLers Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton are facing one count of sexual assault. Michael McLeod is facing two. Four of the five players were active NHLers as recently as last season, with Alex Formenton having last played in 2021-22. Dube and McLeod played in the KHL this season, while Foote played in Slovakia. Formenton and Hart have not played since being charged.

According to reports, McLeod will not testify.

Crown attorney Meaghan Cunningham told the court she was considering calling an additional witness to testify. According to TSN’s Rick Westhead, Cunningham had considered calling Maxime Comtois, who was also part of the 2018 team. Comtois has not been accused of any wrongdoing in this case.

In June of 2018, the accused were in London, Ont., to celebrate Canada’s 2018 World Junior gold medal win. After the Hockey Canada event, members of the team attended a bar in downtown London, where they met the alleged victim (known only publicly as E.M.). The alleged assault took place at a hotel in London.

E.M. alleges that she had consensual sex with McLeod, but that he invited other members of Canada’s World Junior team to the room, where she alleges she was sexually assaulted for hours.

All five players have pleaded not guilty.

Two separate juries have been dismissed as part of the investigation. The original 14-person panel was let go due to a mistrial in April. The second 14-person jury was discharged earlier this month.

The trial is currently in its sixth week.