(Haileybury) Jacob Hoggard’s sexual assault trial resumed Friday morning, with a brief emotional exchange during cross-examination of his accuser.
The complainant alleges that Hoggard raped, choked, slapped and urinated on her in his hotel room after she attended his band’s concert and a post-show party in Kirkland Lake, Ont. eight years ago.
Hoggard, the Hedley frontman, pleaded not guilty at trial. The defense and Crown agree a sexual encounter took place, but prosecutors are seeking to prove it was not consensual.
The complainant broke down in tears and asked for a break about 20 minutes into the day, while being questioned intensely by defense lawyer Megan Savard about her memories of the alleged assault.
The woman strenuously denied that there was a romantic atmosphere in the hotel room and that she had done anything to participate in the removal of his clothes.
Megan Savard was questioning the quality of her memory and wondering if it was possible that she had based her testimony on emotions rather than memories, when the complainant began to break down.