Overview

• The jury was discharged after a juror alleged that defense lawyers were behaving unprofessionally, creating concerns about impartiality.
• Justice Maria Carroccia determined that proceeding with a judge-alone trial was necessary to ensure fairness and avoid a second mistrial.
• The trial involves five former members of Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a London, Ontario, hotel room in June 2018.
• The complainant, identified as E. M., recently concluded nine days of testimony, including extensive cross-examination by defense attorneys.
• This case has faced multiple procedural disruptions, including a previous mistrial and ongoing public scrutiny of Hockey Canada’s handling of misconduct allegations.