Ex-teammate under questioning at judge-only sex assault trial of former world junior hockey players

WARNING: This post contains graphic details.

Greenspan is asking Steenbergen about a meeting he had in 2022 with Danielle Robitaille, a lawyer hired by Hockey Canada to investigate the alleged assaults.

Steenbergen agrees that even prior to the meeting, he was told by investigators that they had witnesses who saw Foote naked in the hotel room and place his testicles on the woman’s face.

He agrees he was led to believe there was sexual contact and that they were “trying to push you to confirm certain things.”

It was during the group chat, Steenbergen says, that he learned that a law firm was going to investigate on behalf of Hockey Canada.

Carnelos is asking Steenbergen about a phone call he had with Dubé, and contact he had had with Dubé on the group chat.

Steenbergen agrees with Carnelos that there were two running themes in that group chat — that there was no need for investigation and that one of the players should talk to Bully about what happened (Bully was Shawn Bullock, a Hockey Canada executive).

Carnelos is asking Steenbergen about the group chat that was formed by the players after it was learned Hockey Canada was investigating the alleged assault in a room at the Delta Armouries hotel in London, Ont.

He agreed with Carnelos that he was nervous about the investigation but that based on his observations in the room, the woman was consenting and that was the theme of the group chat.

Good morning. I’m a senior writer covering the trial this week. We are resuming proceedings this morning with cross-examination of Tyler Steenbergen, a former world junior teammate of the five men on trial.

Lisa Carnelos, a lawyer for defendant Dillon Dubé, had been questioning Steenbergen on Friday.

Through Steenbergen’s testimony, Carnelos seems to be trying to make the same point other defence lawyers attempted to make: that E.M., the complainant, was actively seeking to engage sexually with the players.

Friday marked a major milestone in the trial. For a second time since proceedings began in late April, the judge discharged the jury — and now Justice Carroccia alone will decide the fates of the five men accused of sexual assault.

You can read all about why the jury was discharged here. And check out our live page from Friday if you want to get caught up on how the startling day in court went down.

These developments may have left you with questions.

Was it totally necessary that the jury be dismissed? Does a judge-only trial mean the Crown and defence teams will change their legal strategies? How could it all impact the length of the trial?

We had the same questions. So we’ve done our best to answer them and more here.

Good morning. I’m a senior producer based in Toronto and I’ll be curating our live page today.

Our team of reporters is back at Ontario Superior Court in London, Ont., to bring you the latest updates from the trial, which is entering its fourth week.

Stay with us to see how the day unfolds.