(Saint-Hyacinthe) While he admits to having been “really manipulative,” former hockey player Gabriel Gagné denied Thursday having sexually assaulted the complainant while he was playing for the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs farm clubs. He could drink up to two bottles of wine a day at the time.
Gabriel Gagné, a former 2nd round picke Ottawa Senators tour in 2015, is accused of assault, sexual assault, and threats against a former girlfriend. His trial began Monday at the Saint-Hyacinthe courthouse. Interestingly, this is his third sexual assault trial this summer. He is accused of raping two other women in 2016.
Daphné* testified Monday that she experienced an “ordeal” and a “nightmare” during her relationship with Gabriel Gagné. She described him as a violent and controlling man who consumed a lot of drugs and alcohol. According to her account, the accused threw metal objects at her on several occasions. During episodes of violence, Gabriel Gagné insulted her and denigrated her constantly, she testified.
The young woman recounted being sexually assaulted on numerous occasions by Gabriel Gagné. According to her, the accused regularly demanded sexual relations, even though she did not want to. “He wouldn’t let go. It could last for hours,” she testified. She would then close her eyes and start crying. “I was waiting for it to end,” she said.
Gabriel Gagné, who testified in his defense on Thursday, agrees that their relationship pattern was “toxic.” His numerous infidelities created tensions in their relationship. “I made great promises. Until the next deception.” […] “I was really manipulative,” he summed up.
When he argued with Daphné, Gabriel Gagné assures that he made “no gesture of rapprochement” towards her. “I kept it quiet and I was nice. I didn’t try. There was no clinging. I was on the nice side,” he repeated. “I respected that,” he assured.
Daphne recounted one episode in particular: she had confronted Gabriel Gagné about cheating and had gathered her things to leave. But exhausted, she had gone back to bed. According to her, Gabriel Gagné then penetrated her against her will. “I really didn’t want to,” she recounted.
Regarding this episode, Gabriel Gagné claims on the contrary that Daphné packed her bags and left for thirty minutes before returning. “I am sure that we did not have sexual relations that day. It was very understandable that she did not want sexual relations. At that time, I let the dust settle,” the accused testified.
Gabriel Gagné admitted to brandishing a 40-pound dumbbell over Daphné during a conflict. According to him, he only wanted to “grab” his girlfriend who refused to give him her keys. “I didn’t want to hit her,” he swore. It was someone close to Daphné who intervened at the last minute to hold the weight back during the altercation.
When he was playing in Ontario in the American Hockey League, Gabriel Gagné was addicted to alcohol. He would drink a bottle of wine in the evening, or even two a day. “It depended on whether I was playing the next day. I was still able to moderate when I had an important game the next day,” he explains.
Me Marie-Claude Morin represents the public prosecutor, while Me Maxime Raymond defends the accused.
*Fictitious name