The World Juniors sexual assault trial will proceed with only a judge after the jury was dismissed over concerns of fairness in the Ontario court.
Judge to Decide World Juniors Assault Case After Jury Dismissal
Jury Dismissed Amid Fairness Concerns
In a significant development, the high-profile World Juniors sexual assault trial will now proceed with only a judge presiding, following the dismissal of the jury early Friday. Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia made the decision shortly after the day’s proceedings began, thanking the 14 jurors for their service before discharging them.
Background of the Case
The trial centers on allegations against five former members of Canada’s World Junior hockey team-Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, and Callan Foote-each of whom has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault. The Crown alleges the incident involved non-consensual group sex in a London, Ontario hotel room in June 2018. The complainant, identified only as E.M. due to a publication ban, testified over two days and underwent rigorous cross-examination by the defense.
Why Was the Jury Dismissed?
The jury’s dismissal followed a note from one juror expressing concerns about the conduct of Formenton’s defense lawyers, Daniel Brown and Hillary Dudding. The juror believed the lawyers were laughing at the jury as they entered the courtroom. Justice Carroccia said this perception could compromise the jury’s ability to remain impartial and might also affect the defense’s ability to represent their client effectively.
Brown and Dudding called the note an “unfortunate misinterpretation,” emphasizing that no defense counsel would risk alienating a juror and that their conduct was misconstrued. They expressed disappointment that their client, Mr. Formenton, would not have a jury trial but voiced confidence in Justice Carroccia’s ability to ensure a fair process.
Previous Mistrial and Next Steps
This is the second time the trial has faced a major procedural setback. In late April, a mistrial was declared after a juror accused Dudding of initiating a conversation during a lunch break-an allegation Dudding denied, stating any interaction was accidental.
The shift to a judge-only trial means the proceedings can continue without restarting, sparing the complainant from having to testify again. Testimony resumed Friday with former team member Tyler Steenbergen, who is not charged in the case, returning to the stand.
The trial is expected to last a total of eight weeks, with the court now relying solely on Justice Carroccia to deliver a verdict.
