Two former Victoriaville Tigres players, Massimo Siciliano and Nicolas Daigle, will be released pending a hearing to determine whether their appeal will be successful. The former teammates are contesting the penitentiary sentence they received for sexually assaulting a teenage girl.
“In both cases, I am of the opinion that permission should be granted to appeal the sentence handed down by Judge Jacques,” said Judge Geneviève Cotman. Pending further proceedings, she authorized the two players to remain free under certain conditions.
Judge Jacques sentenced Massimo Siciliano to 30 months and Nicolas Daigle to 32 months in prison. He ruled that “incarceration is the only appropriate sentence.” When imposing the sentence, it was ruled that the assault was collective in nature and that it had directly affected the physical and sexual integrity of the victim.
Lawyers for the two hockey players are contesting the sentence imposed by Judge Thomas Jacques, which they describe as “manifestly unfit.” The case will be heard on the merits in November. Massimo Sicialino and Nicolas Daigle hope to overturn Judge Thomas’ decision and be allowed to serve their sentences at home in addition to having their sentences reduced.
The prosecution did not contest their request for release given that the two former players “have no criminal record and have complied with the conditions of release.” The victim was informed of the appeal proceedings. “We have a relationship of trust with the complainant,” said M.e Michel Bérubé, the Crown prosecutor.
Judge Cotman prohibits them from leaving Quebec and asks them to deposit with the Court, respectively, the sum of $2,000 as security. The ban on contacting the victim is also maintained.
Recall of facts
In June 2021, Massimo Siciliano and Nicolas Daigle, then 18, sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl, an employee of the hotel where the Tigres were staying during the President’s Cup. The incident occurred during the evening when the team was celebrating its cup victory.
Both offenders pleaded guilty to sexual assault just before the trial began last October. Nicolas Daigle also took and distributed a video of the act, without the victim’s consent. To which he also pleaded guilty.
The offenders also demonstrated breach of trust by manipulating the victim into joining them in the hotel room where the act was committed.