Ex-hockey player Noah Corson not only did nothing to verify the age of his 15-year-old victim, but he penetrated her without her consent during a gang rape, the Crown argued Thursday at the trial of ex-player of the Drummondville Voltigeurs. The defense, on the contrary, calls on the judge to reject the complainant’s version.
“Clearly, she wanted to participate in group sexual activity. Maybe she’s not proud of it. But I am of the opinion that she consented and that she does not want to recognize it,” argued M.e Jasmin Laperle, lawyer for Noah Corson, at the Drummondville courthouse.
The 25-year-old from Sherbrooke – whose real name is Noah Lee Jette Corson – is accused of sexual assault with other people. He risks at least five years in prison, since the victim was under 16 years old. His two accomplices, 17-year-old hockey players, pleaded guilty in the Youth Chamber. We cannot therefore identify them.
The case dates back to 2016, when Noah Corson, son of ex-Canadian player Shayne Corson, was a well-known 18-year-old hockey player for the Drummondville Voltigeurs. One evening, Noah Corson is seated at the Cage aux Sports with his two minor accomplices. One of them invites the victim – met on social networks – and a friend to join them.
The evening continues at the apartment of the 15-year-old victim. Versions differ on what happens next. In all cases, it is understood that group sexual activity took place. At trial, the complainant recounted having performed oral sex on a guy while she was being penetrated. She did not consent, according to her.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Me Marc-André Roy, Crown prosecutor
“Mr. Corson was not invited to the room. The door was closed. He’s the one who invites himself. It does not take any steps to verify the consent of [la plaignante] and penetrates her,” argued Crown prosecutor M.e Marc-André Roy.
The testimony of one of the 17-year-old attackers is particularly evocative, according to the Crown. The boy doesn’t play the good role: he talks about his erectile problems and the discomfort during the act. He said he heard sounds of sexual intercourse in the bedroom and sounds of slapping the buttocks, even though he had left the room.
According to the witness, the teenager had visibly cried when she left the room. Her mascara was smeared and she had snot on her nose. “In Mr. Corson’s version, everything is good, everything is correct. I think you can draw the inference that there was no consent,” argued Mr.e Roy.
The age of the complainant is crucial in this case, since she could not consent to group sexual activity at 15 years old. The defense thus insists on the fact that Noah Corson was convinced “100%” that she was 18 years old at the time of the facts, since he believed he was going to “her” apartment” and that she said she was going to a bar. Furthermore, his belief was sincere, but erroneous, the defense attempts to argue.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Me Jasmin Laperle, defense lawyer
“I am convinced that the two girls, knowing that players from the Voltigeurs would be there, did not seek to get younger, but to get older,” said M.e Laperle in defense.
An argument poorly received by Judge Paul Dunnigan.
“I wouldn’t go into stereotypes, because you’re a hockey player and it’s likely that young girls no longer see clearly. I wouldn’t go there,” he said.
Noah Corson took “no steps” to try to find out the age of the complainant, the Crown argued. If he had chatted with her at all during the evening, he would have learned her age, according to M.e Roy. However, Corson only relied on his “deductions” and demonstrated willful blindness.
The prosecutor even invited the judge to observe the complainant in the courtroom. “Look at her at 22. Take seven years off him. Was it reasonable based on her face, yes, she must be 16? », Launched the prosecutor.
“We can’t do this exercise,” replied the defense lawyer.
For the defense, it was reasonable to believe that the complainant was in CEGEP, since she attended a 17-year-old CEGEP student.
“She was a few months away from turning 16, she wasn’t 13 or 14. She was on the verge of consenting to the sexual activity that took place that evening,” M also pleaded.e The Pearl.
The judge will make his decision on February 9.