(Toronto) Canadian rocker Jacob Hoggard testified Tuesday at his trial for the sexual assault of two women, including a minor.
Posted at 12:35 p.m.
In an opening statement to jurors on Tuesday morning, defense attorney Megan Savard said Mr. Hoggard will testify that he had consensual sex with the two plaintiffs.
Hoggard, lead singer of Hedley, pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault causing bodily harm and one of sexual interference, a charge related to sexually touching “a body part of a child under the age of 16”.
The parties in this case agree that the singer arranged for each of the complainants — one of whom was 16 at the time — to meet him at the hotel in the Toronto area, twice in the fall 2016.
The lawsuit alleges that once at the hotel, Hoggard violently and repeatedly sexually assaulted the plaintiffs, who were bleeding and bruised after the alleged events.
The Crown finished presenting its evidence early last week. The defense said it also plans to call a limousine driver who drove one of the plaintiffs to her meeting with the singer.
The two complainants cannot be identified, under a publication ban, as are several other witnesses in this case.