Editor’s Note: The following story deals with sexual assault, and may be distressing for some readers.
If you or someone you know is in need of support, those in Canada can find province-specific centres, crisis lines and services here. For readers in America, a list of resources and references for survivors and their loved ones can be found here.
London Police Chief Thai Truong apologized Monday to the woman at the centre of the investigation into the sexual assault stemming from an alleged incident in June 2018 involving members of that year’s Canadian World Junior hockey team.
Truong addressed the media on Monday to discuss the “lengthy and complex process” that has resulted in five players being charged.
At the press conference, Truong and Det. Sgt. Katherine Dann, who is with the London police sexual assault and child abuse unit, stressed the importance of respecting the legal process, which also began Monday with the first court proceedings in the case, and were unable to share many details around the case and how it was handled.
Truong did, however, issue an apology to the woman, known in court documents as E.M., for the amount of time it has taken the service to reach the point of pressing charges.
“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,” said Truong, who was appointed chief on June 1, 2023. “As a police officer working in this space for many, many years, I can tell you that this is a difficult, difficult situation for all victims and survivors of sexual violence.”
Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Carter Hart, all 25, and Alex Formenton, 24, have been charged with one count of each of sexual assault. Michael McLeod, 26, has been charged with two counts of sexual assault. All five individuals, who represented Canada during the 2018 World Junior tournament, surrendered separately to the London Police Service within the last 10 days and were released following charges.
“Today’s charges are a critical, critical step as we move forward,” said Truong.
Earlier Monday, lawyers representing the five accused attended the arraignment via video conference, where all parties agreed that court proceedings would be adjourned until April 30. Charges were not heard in court on Monday, and no pleas were issued. The decision was made in order to allow legal teams to receive and review a package of evidence collected by London police, known as disclosure. The disclosure will be addressed when all parties reconvene in 12 weeks.
Also determined in court on Monday was the publication ban in place for this case. That means any information that could make public the identity of the alleged victim and two witnesses in the case cannot be published.
In May 2022, a report revealed that Hockey Canada had settled a civil lawsuit with a woman in London after she alleged she was sexually assaulted by eight men, including members of the 2018 men’s World Junior team, following an event honouring the team in June 2018. Following widespread scrutiny of Hockey Canada’s handling of the situation, London police re-opened its own investigation in July 2022. An initial investigation was launched in the summer of 2018 and closed in February 2019 with investigators concluding that there was insufficient evidence to lay charges.
Asked repeatedly by reporters what mistakes were made during the initial investigation to result in no charges being laid, both Truong and Dann said they could not disclose details at this time. Truong did specify, however, that the investigators on the initial case are no longer part of this investigation.
In a statement released after the police press conference, Hockey Canada said it “has cooperated fully with the London Police Service throughout its investigation” and that it is “committed to continuing to support the legal process.”
