Police chief apologizes to woman in hockey players sex assault case

The police chief in London, Ont., apologized on Monday to the woman at the centre of the sexual assault case against five former members of Canada’s world junior hockey team.

Chief Thai Truong said he extended his “sincerest apology” for the six years it took to lay sexual assault charges against the players and acknowledged the woman for her “courage and incredible strength throughout.”

The charges in the case relate to an alleged incident at a hotel in London in June 2018. The investigation was initially closed without charges in 2019 before it was reopened three years later. London Det. Sgt. Katherine Dann says officers found new evidence that helped lead to the charges.

Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton were charged with sexual assault last month. McLeod is also facing an additional charge of sexual assault for “being a party to the offence."

Lawyers for the players have said their clients will defend themselves against the allegations.

The woman's identity and the identities of two witnesses are protected by a court-ordered publication ban. CBC has closed commenting on this video due to the ban.

For anyone who has been sexually assaulted, there is support available through crisis lines and local support services, which you can find via the sexual misconduct support resources search tool on the Government of Canada website or the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.

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