Chris Clegg
High Prairie South Peace News
The not guilty verdict delivered by Ontario Supreme Court Justice Maria Carroccia July 24 in the case of five former junior hockey players is not surprising. Guilty verdicts in sexual assault cases are extremely difficult to attain at the best of times.
No one in this readership area attended every day of the trial. Only by reading news reports, watching TV and making an effort to stay informed during the trial allows one to form an intelligent opinion.
Guilty or not guilty? In short, the judge did not believe the alleged female victim, known as E.M.; therefore, there was no possibility of a criminal conviction.
The winners and losers in the case are lining up with comments and enjoying their moment of fame.
Some with glee, other with devastation. E.M. says the verdict is “devastating” while one of the accused’s lawyers says the case should never have gone to trial. Meanwhile, E.M.’s lawyer says “the justice system must do better” while anther accused’s lawyer says the ruling is a “resounding vindication.”
The acts performed in the hotel room are not disputed. The issue at hand was consent. The judge did not believe E.W.’s testimony. End of story!
So, the last verdict falls upon the court of public opinion where these five young men have lost miserably and deservedly so. As parents and a society, we teach our young men and women how to behave properly. As testimony revealed, five men and one woman were in hotel room committing sexual acts. Liquor was involved. Unacceptable!
Hockey Canada likes to preach how they are raising fine young men and women through the game of hockey. How in the world did this happen? Five young men and a woman in a hotel room. This is an example of the fine young men Hockey Canada is taking credit for? Are Canada’s elite hockey players so entitled they believe they can do whatever they want, whenever they want?
In the court of public opinion, this boils down to the character of the five young men. It is disputed whether the acts in that hotel room were committed with or without clear consent. The justice said she did not believe E.W. but it does not mean 100 per cent that she in fact consented. We have to have a criminal justice system to decide such matters and this is the best we can do.
The behaviour of these men in this matter is despicable. They should have known better and acted accordingly as well-adjusted men. So-called role models as elite hockey players. Their acts are deemed not to be criminal but they were disgusting.
Ask yourself this if you are parent. “Given what you now know, would you want any of these five young men to date your daughter?”
To most of us, the answer is clear.