Carter Hart, former Flyers goalie, acquitted in Hockey Canada sexual assault trial.
Carter Hart, the former goaltender for the Philadelphia Flyers, has been acquitted of sexual assault charges by Justice Maria Carroccia following a trial in Ontario’s Superior Court. The verdict was delivered after a thorough examination of the evidence, with Justice Carroccia stating that the Crown had failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The ruling clears Hart, along with four other former Canadian World Junior team players, of accusations tied to an incident that allegedly occurred in June 2018 after a Hockey Canada banquet in London, Ontario.
During the proceedings, which spanned several weeks and included disturbances such as a mistrial, Justice Carroccia analyzed extensive evidence that led to her conclusion. She noted inconsistencies in the testimony of the accuser, identified as E.M., which played a critical role in the decision. The judge emphasized that the prosecution could not satisfactorily demonstrate that the sexual contact among the players was non-consensual.
Hart, who is approaching his 27th birthday, faced the allegation involving obtaining non-consensual oral sex from E.M. the night of the banquet. The court heard that she had previously engaged in consensual sexual activity with one of the co-defendants, Michael McLeod, before alleging that the assault occurred later in a hotel room involving Hart and other players. If convicted, Hart and the others faced potential prison sentences of up to 10 years under Canadian law.
The trial saw the Crown presenting its case against Hart, Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, and Alex Formenton, all of whom were also found not guilty. Following the verdict, Justice Carroccia informed the court that the accused were free to leave, while the Crown has 30 days to consider whether to appeal the decision.
This case marks the conclusion of legal proceedings that began over seven years ago following the initial police investigation. The outcome has implications not only for Hart and his fellow defendants but also for the NHL, where scrutiny of the league’s handling of similar allegations and its internal investigation is expected to intensify. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman indicated that the league would assess the situation following the conclusion of the trial, adding that it would refrain from interfering with the legal process.
Hart, now a free agent, is navigating his next steps in a career that has seen significant challenges. During his time with the Flyers, he made a notable impact but has also faced scrutiny and pressure from the ongoing investigation and trial. The implications of this verdict and potential NHL actions in response to the allegations against Hart and his co-defendants remain to be seen as the sports world closely monitors developments in this high-profile case.
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