Judge Dismisses Jury for Sexual Assault Trial of 5 Hockey Players After Jurors Claim Attorneys Made Fun of Them

Judge Dismisses Jury in Sexual Assault Trial of 5 Canadian Hockey Players

An Ontario Superior Court judge has made the decision to dismiss the jury for the sexual assault trial involving five Canadian hockey players. Michael McLeod, Dillon Dubé, Carter Hart, Cal Foote, and Alex Formenton are facing accusations of sexual assault against a woman dating back to 2018. The judge’s ruling came following a note submitted by a juror on behalf of the jury, accusing the defense attorneys of unprofessional conduct during the proceedings.

The jury member reported that defense attorneys Daniel Brown and Hilary Dudding were observed whispering and laughing in a manner that suggested they were discussing the juror’s appearance. While the defense vehemently denied these allegations, the juror’s concerns about potential bias in light of these actions prompted the judge, Justice Maria Carroccia, to take action. Although the judge did not witness the alleged behavior, she deemed it necessary to address the potential impact on the jury’s impartiality by dismissing them from the trial.

The accused hockey players, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dubé, Carter Hart, Cal Foote, and Alex Formenton, have maintained their innocence regarding the 2018 sexual assault allegations. This recent development follows a previous mistrial declaration by Judge Carroccia, where concerns were raised about interactions between a juror and Hilary Dudding. The mistrial was declared after the defense argued that the jury’s perception of the attorneys could influence the trial outcome, leading to the selection of a new jury for the trial proceedings.

Following the dismissal of the jury, Judge Carroccia has taken the responsibility to oversee the high-profile trial independently. Defense lawyer Daniel Brown, representing the accused hockey players, emphasised that any interactions between attorneys during a trial are standard practice and refuted any suggestions of disrespectful conduct towards the jurors. The defense team is now preparing to proceed with the trial without the involvement of the dismissed jury.

The case has garnered significant attention, given the prominent roles of the defendants as former members of Canada’s world junior hockey team. The upcoming continuation of the trial will see a new jury introduced to evaluate the evidence and reach a verdict on the serious allegations of sexual assault. The legal proceedings in this case underscore the importance of upholding the principles of fairness and impartiality in the pursuit of justice.

As the trial of the five hockey players moves forward, the legal and ethical standards surrounding courtroom conduct and jury impartiality remain under scrutiny. The dismissal of the jury marks a significant turning point in the proceedings, prompting a renewed focus on ensuring a fair and transparent trial process for all parties involved. Stay updated for further developments on this ongoing case as it unfolds in the Ontario Superior Court.