Prosecutors argue a former member of Canada's world junior hockey team is pretending not to remember details that could be damaging to five of his ex-teammates currently on trial for sexual assault.
The Crown is making an application to cross-examine Brett Howden on more than a dozen areas of his testimony they say are inconsistent with what he has previously said in statements and text messages.
Among them are details Howden testified Tuesday he did not recall, even after reviewing his previous statements. The Crown argues his loss of memory on these points is "not sincere."
Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart and Callan Foote have pleaded not guilty to sexual assault. McLeod has also pleaded not guilty to an additional charge of being a party to the offence of sexual assault.
The charges relate to an encounter with a woman in a hotel room in London, Ont., in the early morning hours of June 19, 2018.
Howden, who now plays in the NHL for the Vegas Golden Knights, told the court Tuesday he went to McLeod's room to order food and hang out with his teammates, and was surprised to see a woman there.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 21, 2025.
The Canadian Press
