The chief of the London Police Service apologized Monday to the alleged victim in the 2018 World Juniors sexual assault case for how long “it has taken to reach this point.”
Chief Thai Truong issued the apology at a news conference in London, Ont., hours after the case was in court for the first time.
“I want to extend on behalf of the London Police Service my sincerest apology to the victim, to her family for the amount of time that it has taken to reach this point,” he said, after noting to reporters present that the woman — who was 20 at the time of the alleged sexual assault — had indicated that is how she prefers to be described.
“As a police officer working in this space, for many, many years, I can tell you that this is a difficult situation for all victims and survivors of sexual violence,” he continued.
“It shouldn’t take years and years for us to arrive at the outcome of today.”
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Hockey Canada scandal: London police chief apologizes, says case ‘should not take this long’ -
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Hockey Canada scandal: Charges announced against 5 members of 2018 World Junior team for sexual assault -
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Hockey Canada scandal: London, Ont. police say ‘some evidence not available’ at conclusion of 2019 investigation -
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Hockey Canada scandal: London police found ‘additional steps’ when reviewing investigation that concluded in 2019
Lawyers for Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart and Michael McLeod appeared virtually in court in London, Ont., Monday for a brief appearance. They did not enter pleas.
The hockey players were charged with sexual assault late last month. McLeod is facing an additional charge of sexual assault for allegedly “being a party to the offence,” a court document shows.
Det. Sgt. Katherine Dann of the London police sexual assault and child abuse unit clarified the second charge relates to McLeod allegedly “aiding someone else in committing the offence.”
None of the allegations have been proven in court. The case will be back in court on April 30.
Lawyers for the players have said their clients will defend themselves against the allegations.
Lengthy investigation
The charges stem from an alleged group sexual assault in London in June 2018 after a Hockey Canada gala event involving a woman identified as “E.M.” in court records.
A police probe was initially closed without charges months after the alleged incident, but after TSN reported in May 2022 that Hockey Canada had quietly settled a civil lawsuit with the complainant, the case was reopened and the initial investigation was reviewed.
“Additional witnesses were spoken to and we collected more evidence,” Dann said Monday. “I can confirm that some of this evidence was not available when the investigation concluded in 2019.
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“This is one investigation, not two.”
Dann and Truong repeatedly refused to comment on why it took years of investigation before charges were laid. The chief said in response to reporter queries that the question of “why it took so long” will form part of the legal proceedings.
Truong said the members of the initial investigation team have not been part of the case since it was reopened.
“I would like to make it clear that the victim in this matter has fully participated in this investigation from the time it was initially reported to police until today,” he said.
Dann said there have been “varying levels of participation in the investigation” from individuals since it was reopened, but wouldn’t clarify who cooperated and whether anyone did not.
During parliamentary committee testimony in 2022, Hockey Canada executives told MPs that members of the 2018 World Juniors team were not required to participate in the initial investigation done internally by the organization through a hired firm, and not all players spoke to investigators.
No comment from NHL
Four of the players charged now play in the NHL.
Last month, all five players’ teams publicly announced they had been granted indefinite leaves of absence, but the teams did not mention the London case.
Dube is currently on leave from the Calgary Flames, Hart from the Philadelphia Flyers, and McLeod and Foote from the New Jersey Devils. Formenton, who previously played for the Ottawa Senators, is on leave from his team in Switzerland.
In their announcement, the Flames said Dube was taking leave “while he attends to his mental health” and that he is “under the care of health professionals.”
The Flames later said the team “had no knowledge of pending charges at the time Dillon’s request for a leave of absence was granted.”
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said last week the league would wait until the criminal case has concluded before commenting. The Devils and the Flyers referred questions on the case to the NHL. Hockey Canada has not issued an official statement on the charges.
News of Hockey Canada’s settlement with the victim triggered intense scrutiny on the organization that eventually led the entire board and leadership team to resign. Hockey Canada and the NHL also launched their own investigations.
Dann said the overlapping investigations added “complexity” to the police probe, but declined to go into specifics.
Hockey Canada in November said late last year that the final report from an independent adjudication panel that looked into the alleged sexual assaults would not be released publicly amid an internal appeal process.
Henein Hutchison LLP’s report has also remained sealed throughout the adjudication process, which itself was carried out in private. That probe was reopened after the TSN report in 2022.
All players from the 2018 World Junior team remain suspended by Hockey Canada and are ineligible to play, coach or otherwise participate in any Hockey Canada-sanctioned events — including international competition — pending the completion of the appeal process, the organization said.
— with files from Global News’ Shallima Maharaj and The Canadian Press
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