London, Ont. police chief apologizes to victim in hockey sexual assault case

In an update in the investigation into five members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior Hockey team accused of sexual assault, London, Ontario police issue an apology and provide new details.

Police say a review of the initial investigation led to new evidence, allowing charges to be brought last week.

At a press conference this afternoon, the chief of London police apologized to the woman at the centre of this case in one of the more emotional moments of the day, but he wouldn’t say if mistakes were made in the investigation.

Detectives also provided some new information, but not a lot, frequently telling reporters they couldn’t answer many specific questions, like why it took so long for charges to be laid, because the case is now before the courts.

“Those leads were followed, additional witnesses were spoken to, and we collected more evidence,” Det. Sgt. Katherine Dann from London police said.

It’s the answer to the question many were wondering, what changed between the initial investigation spanning from June 2018 to February 2019, that was closed without charges due to insufficient evidence, and the new investigation in July 2022 that led to last week’s charges against 5 pro hockey players?

“Upon review of the occurrence it was determined that there were additional steps that could be taken to advance the investigation,” Dann said.

Dann says after that review, the case was reopened and she was put in charge, leading to that new evidence.

She says the evidence was unavailable in 2018-2019, but wouldn’t give any hints about what it is.

“We can’t answer any questions about the evidence that we collected, and providing any specifics about that I fear would jeopardize the case,” Dann said.

When asked, London police say a committee that reviews sexual assault cases where charges are not laid, did not review the initial investigation.

London Police Chief Thai Truong wouldn’t say if that initial investigation met the service’s standard, or if London police made mistakes, or who is responsible for why it took more than five and a half years for charges to be laid.

“And right now I cannot answer that question…it will truly compromise the current process, and like I said, there’s a time and there’s a place,” Truong said.

The sexual assault case of five former members of Canada’s world junior hockey team has been put over to the end of April.

Lawyers for all five players appeared via video in a London court for the first hearing in the case this morning but none of the players were present. pic.twitter.com/ZcvoMHBhrl

— CHCH News (@CHCHNews) February 5, 2024

Truong apologized for how long it has taken for those charges to materialize.

“My sincerest apology to the victim and her family for the amount of time it has taken to reach this point,” Truong said.

Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton all face one count of sexual assault, stemming from an alleged attack at a London hotel in the early hours of June 19, 2018, after celebrating their gold medal win at the World Junior Hockey Championship at a Team Canada fundraiser followed by a visit to Jack’s Pub.

McLeod faces an additional charge of sexual assault for “being a party to the offence.”

“In relation to aiding someone else in committing the offense,” Dann said.

READ MORE: World junior hockey players’ sex assault case to be before London court on Monday

Police wouldn’t say if other members of the team could face charges.

Lawyers for the five accused appeared briefly over video conference in a London court Monday morning.

No pleas were given, but it is expected all five players will plead not guilty.

Hockey Canada quietly settled a lawsuit brought by the woman in this case, a secret settlement that when revealed by TSN’s Rick Westhead led to a national outcry, parliamentary investigations and a change of leadership at Hockey Canada.

Police say the victim in this case has cooperated with investigators since the start.

The case returns to court on April 30.