Andrew Lupton of CBC News,
WARNING: This article contains graphic content and may affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone affected by it.
A brief hearing for five former players on Canada's 2018 world junior hockey team was held Monday morning in London, Ont., via video link, with their lawyers appearing on their behalf and April 30 set as their next court appearance in the sexual assault case.
None of the five players — Michael McLeod and Cal Foote of the New Jersey Devils, Dillon Dubé of the Calgary Flames, Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers and former NHLer Alex Formenton — appeared on the video link in the procedural hearing.
But lawyers for all five were told to expect "substantial" disclosure of case information, including audio and video evidence, to be delivered to them on a hard drive by courier sometime Monday or Tuesday.
For those outside of Canada, this will be on https://t.co/vtgZ2JafZx with no geo restrictions. https://t.co/Y6R9VseGxO
— James Duthie (@tsnjamesduthie) February 5, 2024
from Emily Sadler of Sportsnet,
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 years 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.
continued
Watch Rick Westhead of TSN on the press conference in London.
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