LONDON – Nearly six years have passed since the alleged gang rape of which five players from the 2018 edition of Junior Team Canada are accused. London police apologize, but don’t explain why.
• Read also: 2018 Canada Junior Team: “I wasn’t there” –Cale Makar
• Read also: ECJ 2018: the five hockey players should not play during the legal process
Many questions, few answers. Without going into detail, London Police Chief Thai Truong agreed the investigation had gone on far too long.
“The police are not happy that it took six years,” he said Monday in London, during a widely publicized press conference held at the Ontario city’s convention center. I’m confident it won’t happen again.”
It was neither possible to explain why nor to identify anyone responsible for the three-year period between the suspension of the investigation in early 2019 and its reopening in July. 2022.
“There will be a time for that,” Mr. Truong repeated, however, specifying that he did not want to interfere with the legal proceedings.
“I can’t talk about the past, but I can talk about the future,” he added, immediately praising the work of Detective Sergeant Katherine Dann.
In her turn at the podium, the latter mentioned that it was “additional evidence” and “new information” which led to the reopening of the investigation in July 2022. The detective sergeant was not initially involved when the file seemed closed, without any charges filed, in February 2019.
Sexual assault accused
At the opening of the press conference, the police chief confirmed that Michael McLeod was facing two different counts of sexual assault, one due to his own participation in the alleged facts and the second, as specified by the detective sergeant, because he allegedly “incited someone to commit the offense”. Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton each face one count of sexual assault.
When apologizing for the length of the investigation, Mr. Truong addressed his words to the alleged victim, identified by the initials EM
“I would like to offer my sincere apologies to the victim and her family for the time spent before reaching this point,” he said, saluting the courage of the young girl who collaborated from the start. opening of the investigation in 2018. It should not take that long. Victims shouldn’t have to wait this long.”
New accusations?
Remember that it was in a hotel room in downtown London that the actions in question allegedly took place on June 18, 2018, on the sidelines of a gala organized by Hockey Canada in which several ECJ skaters participated.
In a lawsuit filed against Hockey Canada, eight players from the 2018 Canadian junior team and the Canadian Hockey League were involved. Detective Sergeant Katherine Dann could not determine on Monday whether new charges were possible, but she remains open to gathering information from the public.
“Still, I cannot answer this question,” she often indicated during the press conference. We have laid charges in relation to all those where we believe it is justified to do so.
“There is an incident and a victim,” she nevertheless confirmed.
In court on April 30
Recalling the chronology of events, Mme Dann said the victim was allegedly met at Jack’s bar after the Hockey Canada event, then the alleged gang rape took place at the Delta Armories Hotel.
For his part, Mr. Truong recalled that he was not the London police chief when the investigation got a second wind, but that he welcomed the decision of his predecessor Steve Williams, now retired. , for ordering that the investigation be reviewed.
In the morning, the lawyers of the five players concerned participated in a first appearance virtually. Documents are also sent to lawyers by the Crown, while the case will return to court on April 30. It should be noted that an order not to publish the identity of the alleged victim and two witnesses was issued.
Some excerpts from the press conference
“I cannot discuss the information now submitted to the court. […] Now our organization is focused on supporting the [présumée] victim and to ensure the credibility of the ongoing process.” – Thai Truong, London Police Chief
“I want to highlight the courage and incredible strength of the [présumée] victim.” – Thai Truong, London Police Chief
“I understand that today’s announcement may hurt or bring to the surface trauma for victims of sexual assault.” – Katherine Dann, Detective Sergeant, Sexual Assault Unit, London Police
On the additional charge against McLeod: it’s because he allegedly “helped someone commit the offense,” according to Katherine Dann
Regarding the collaboration of the other members of the 2018 Junior Team Canada in the police investigation: it was of “varied levels”, according to Mme Dann
“On behalf of the London Police, I want to convey my sincere apologies to the victim and his family for the time it has taken to get to this point.” – Mr. Truong.
As for the possibility of filing charges later: “We have filed charges in relation to all those that we believe are justified.” – Katherine Dann
“I’m not a hockey player, I don’t know anything about hockey.” – Mr. Truong asserting that it was an investigation into a sexual assault and not a situation specific to hockey culture
“I haven’t spoken to anyone from the NHL side in the last few months.” –Mme Dann