LONDON, Ontario — A judge declared a mistrial Friday within the sexual assault case involving five former members of Canada’s world junior hockey team.
The ruling from a judge in Ontario means a brand new trial will likely be held for Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote, who’ve all pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.
McLeod has also pleaded not guilty to a further charge of being a celebration to the offense of sexual assault.
The trial began Wednesday and the prosecution’s first witness only briefly took the stand before testimony was placed on hold for legal arguments that took place within the absence of the jury.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia brought jurors back Friday morning and informed them that they were being discharged.
The costs against the players relate to an encounter that took place in a hotel room in Ontario in June 2018, when lots of the team’s members were in London for a Hockey Canada gala.
