Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, Michael McLeod and Cal Foote all just took "indefinite leave of absences"... an inference could be drawn... but since there are "Apparently Five"...
Alex Formenton on leave from Swiss team to "return to Canada"...5th one no longer in the NHL
I mean what has changed is society's overall view towards this type of behavior.Things must have changed since the first decision not to proceed. While it's fundamentally important to believe victims, I think it's also important to "trust but verify." That verification is very difficult in sexual assault cases. If the Crown is proceeding, it's because they feel they can meet the "substantial likelihood of conviction" charge standard. You need both that and it to be deemed "in the public interest." The last one might be easier to satisfy in this case....
I agree with a lot of what you say. Yes, how society has treated these situations has evolved. What I meant, specifically, from the Crown's perspective, is that something has recently changed to potentially meet their charge approval standard. In 2018, the complainant, according to some media reports, withdrew her complaint (under pressure). Faced with a now not cooperating complainant, that made the police's and Crown's job very difficult to proceed.I mean what has changed is society's overall view towards this type of behavior.
With this case, my understanding is that the complainant initially went to police and filed a complaint. Some investigative calls were made and, as a result, it appears the main player involved went back to the complainant (via text) and told her she needed to withdraw the complaint because allegations of this nature were going to be incredibly damaging to the careers of the players.
Obviously that's a very Coles Notes version of those exchanges, but essentially she is saying she was assaulted and then pressured to withdraw.
For London Police in 2018 that was case closed. The #MeToo movement was only just starting to reach full vigor at that time.
The suggestion is that all sorts of these types of "scenarios" were quietly handled for years by Hockey Canada with quiet phone calls and back room handshakes...
My point was I don't think there was anything to take to Crown in 2018. The complaint was withdrawn. Back then that was enough for police to tie it off.I agree with a lot of what you say. Yes, how society has treated these situations has evolved. What I meant, specifically, from the Crown's perspective, is that something has recently changed to potentially meet their charge approval standard. In 2018, the complainant, according to some media reports, withdrew her complaint (under pressure). Faced with a now not cooperating complainant, that made the police's and Crown's job very difficult to proceed.
What may have changed is that the complainant now feels supported and is ready to withstand the scrutiny of a criminal proceeding. It may also be that they have developed corroborating evidence that they didn't have before. The "what has changed" piece will be fascinating to watch.
It never fails to amaze and horrify me the depths of depravity humans sink. Do parents not have discussions with their boys about respecting girls? What possesses anyone in a situation like these privileged players to think this was remotely a good/fun idea? That goes for today, 2018, 2003, or +35 years ago when I was the age of those players. To think that these guys have specific terms (which I won't repeat) that describe this activity (I have heard different ones for 2003 and one for 2018) is beyond belief.
It never fails to amaze and horrify me the depths of depravity humans sink. Do parents not have discussions with their boys about respecting girls? What possesses anyone in a situation like these privileged players to think this was remotely a good/fun idea? That goes for today, 2018, 2003, or +35 years ago when I was the age of those players. To think that these guys have specific terms (which I won't repeat) that describe this activity (I have heard different ones for 2003 and one for 2018) is beyond belief.