Hockey players: the complainant “deforms” the truth, suggests the defense

During her counter-examination of the alleged victim of the five former team members Canada Junior accused of sexual assault, the lawyer of Carter Hart, one of the accused, suggested Thursday that the complainant “distorts” the words of the hockey players present in the hotel chamber where she maintains that she was raped in order to “make them appear as possibly criminals”.

During the hearing that started around noon two hours late, Me Megan Savard focused on the events that would have occurred in this room during the night of June 18 to 19, 2018.

Earlier this week, E. M.-Her identity is protected by a non-publication order-said that at least two times, she had tried to get out of the room but that each time the men who were in the room said to each other She cries, don’t let her leave Before hugging it and bringing it back to a bed sheet which had been extended to the ground.

Me Savard stressed that the complainant had never mentioned before her testimony, not even during her interrogation with the police of Londonwhich took place a few days after the alleged sexual assault.

When you have realized, in the past seven years, they have said to themselves: “She cries, don’t let her leave”? asked the lawyer.

I will suggest, madam, that in a few occasions, including this one, you take a little game, something that happened, and you deform the words a little to make them look like something really worse [que la réalité] and possibly criminal.

No, I don’t agree with that. Again, seven years have passed. I am older, I got maturity and I can express myself better. This is what happenedreplied E. M.

I tell my truth, my story […]I have no reason to invent a worse version.

French in the play

After the dinner break, Me Savard continued his counter-examination about one of the individuals who were in the room and who spoke French, according to what E. M. had indicated in his testimony. The latter said that she had been able to identify the man in question in the photos that the police presented to her when she filed a complaint.

E. M., who confirmed to be bilingual to the lawyer, stressed that she addressed this man in French on the evening of the alleged sexual assault but that she no longer remembers what has been said.

Always in response to the questions of Me Savard, E. M. indicated that it is certainly not She who disclosed the declaration relating to the amicable regulations of Hockey Canada to media in 2022.

My understanding was that it was going to be a private affair and that I could move onshe said.

It is the revelation of this agreement that sparked an uproar in the Canadian sports and political world and which pushed the police of London To reopen the investigation into this file in July 2022.

Refused toxicological analysis

The counter-examination later extended to the toxicological analysis refused by E. M. when she went to the hospital in the days which followed her alleged sexual assault.

The complainant said that she went to the hospital at the police suggestion, who told her that she could get a forensic kit, which can prove to be a significant evidence for victims of sexual assault.

Once in the hospital, E. M. told nurses that she thought she had consumed poisoned drinks given the symptoms she felt and that she provided samples of urine and blood.

The complainant added that the nurses told her that a toxicological analysis would probably not be conclusive, given that more than 72 hours had passed after the consumption of said drinks.

E. M. therefore refused toxicological analysis, a decision of which the nurses took note.

Savard suggested that the complainant had refused the test because he would have revealed anything other than Another well -watered Saturday evening.

No, I refused because [le test] would not have shown anything. I would have readily accepted itreplied E. M.

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On Wednesday, at the start of his counter-examination, Me Savard had raised “inconsistent previous declarations” of the complainant and suggested that E. Mr. had adopted the behavior ofA pornographic actress in the hotel room.

Tuesday, the complainant rejected the suggestion of me Michael Humphreythe accused’s lawyer Michael McLeodaccording to which she had herself asked her client, after their consensual sexual intercourse, to invite her teammates to the room to pass a crazy night.

Who do you blame?press defense, which invokes an alter ego

After knowing me, it was the turn of Daniel Brownthe lawyer forAlex Formentonto prosecute the complainant’s counter-perspective.

The lawyer suggested that E. M., who admits being usually reserved, turns into his alter ego when she consumes alcohol, Who does not ask the question of whether it is a good idea or not to deceive his boyfriend […]which does not think about the consequences […] by following at the hotel a man whom she barely knows.

I don’t know if I like this alter egoreplied E. M, who, on several occasions in his testimony, spoke of his inbound state in the night of June 18 to 19, 2018 to justify some of his decisions.

I should have the right [d’être en état d’ébriété] without fear that something serious will happencontinued the complainant.

You said that you have long reproached yourself what happened to you. You don’t blame yourself anymore. Who do you blame? asked the lawyer to E. M.

I always have a share of blamereplied the complainant.

Do you think it is easier to deny your deliberate choices than to recognize shame, the guilt you feel because of your choices? chained the lawyer.

I’m not sure I agree with you. I really blame myself, but I think other people should be held responsible for [ce qui s’est passé] that nighta while ure

Me Brown must continue her counter-examination of the complainant on Friday morning.

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Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Cal Foote, Dillon Dubé and Alex Formenton Everyone faces a chief of accusation of sexual assault.

Michael McLeod Also faced with a charge of participation in the offense.

They all pleaded not guilty at the start of the trial.

All lawyers of the accused will have the opportunity to oppose E. M.