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Warning: This article contains graphic content and may affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone who has been affected by sexual violence.
Five former 2018 World Junior Hockey players have turned themselves in to police in London, Ont., on sexual assault charges in a high-profile case that has embroiled the sport’s governing body in controversy, The Globe and Mail reports. I was told to do so.
London police declined to comment publicly on Wednesday about the circumstances of the case. CBC News has not independently verified the Globe and Mail report.
London Police’s Acting Sergeant said: “We have no additional information to share at this time.” Sandasha Buh said in an email to CBC News.
According to 2022 court documents, London police believe there are sufficient grounds to charge the players with sexually assaulting a young woman in a hotel room in London, Ont., in June 2018. It became clear that
London police closed the case in 2018, but reopened it in 2022 in response to public outrage following the lawsuit.
CBC’s Fifth Estate reported that the initial investigation was described by experts as “sketchy at best.”
The alleged victim, known only as “EM” in court documents, is suing eight unnamed players, Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League for more than $3.5 million. Hockey Canada settled that lawsuit.
According to EM’s complaint, the woman, who was 20 at the time, claims she met the players while the world junior champion was in London for a Hockey Canada Foundation gala and golf event.
She then went to the player’s hotel room and allegedly engaged in sexual acts with him, according to the complaint.
The suit alleges that at one point, the player allowed seven other people to enter the room without their “knowledge or consent.”
The suit also says the men brought “golf clubs with the knowledge that they would further frighten and intimidate her.”
According to the complaint, the group of hockey players subjected the victim to a series of degrading acts over several hours, including placing their genitals in his face, spanking him, spitting on him, ejaculating on him, and having vaginal sex with him while he was inside. He is said to have engaged in hurtful sexual acts. I’m too drunk to consent.
At one point, the young woman cried and tried to leave the room, but was “directed, manipulated, and threatened to remain in the room,” the statement said.
After the sexual assault was over, the players allegedly filmed the young woman, told her to say she was sober, and told her to take a shower.
The suit also alleges that the players pressured the young woman not to press charges or cooperate with the police investigation.
Allegations of misconduct in Hockey Canada
Further details of the investigation were revealed in a court filing prepared by London police and unsealed by the Globe and Mail in 2022.
Documents obtained by CBC News also included a request by police for a judge to approve a warrant or production order in connection with the investigation.
According to court filings, EM told police in 2018 that he met one of the players at Jack’s Bar on a night of drinking, and that an “older gentleman” bought bullets for the group and fired a “Jaeger bomb. He also recalled pouring ” into his mouth.
According to court filings, the man praised the player he was with and told EM to “take care of him.”
According to court filings, a player known as “Player #1” took EM back to his hotel room at the Delta Armory.
Police interviewed multiple players believed to have been involved in the incident.
According to court filings, based on interviews with players, one player said Player #1 asked if anyone in his room wanted to perform certain sexual acts, and two players responded yes. reported.
Recently filed court documents say police have executed search warrants to further investigate five members of the 2018 World Junior Hockey Team who police believe were involved in the alleged sexual assault of a woman in London, Ont. The reason for the request is made clear. None of the police allegations have been heard in court and no charges have been filed.
The court filing also alleges that Player #1 was responsible for recording two videos of EM asking, “Are you okay?” in his hotel room.
One of the videos shows a woman wiping her eyes and slurring her speech, according to the documents.
EM told police he believed the video was taken at the end of the night and didn’t remember it at all.
“According to EM, the two video clips made by Player 1 were created to prevent her from going to the police,” London Police Sgt. David Younan, who prepared the application to the court.
“Player #1 even asked her if she was going to go to the police…and asked her to resolve the issue with the police.”
The court filing includes text message exchanges between EM and Player #1 in which he repeatedly asks EM to “fix” the issue.
According to court filings, Player #1 texted EM, “Okay, please find a way to resolve this and contact the police.”
“What can I do to make this go away? Okay, so you’re going to end this?”
Apart from the criminal case, two other investigations related to the alleged mass sexual assault are ongoing.
Hockey Canada hired a private law firm to conduct an investigation into the incident. It then established an “independent tribunal” to complete a closed-door hearing and release a final report to determine whether the players involved should be sanctioned.
However, the hockey organization has not made the results public, saying the committee’s conclusions are pending appeal.
Hockey Canada said Wednesday it had no updates to share regarding the “ongoing appeals process.”
The NHL is also conducting its own investigation, but the results have not yet been released.
For anyone who has experienced sexual assault, there is support available through crisis lines and local support services. Government of Canada website or Canadian Society for the Elimination of Violence Database. If you are in immediate danger or if your safety or the safety of others is threatened, call 911.
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