Tyler Steenbergen is questioned by Crown lawyer Heather Donkers.
(Alexandra Newbould/CBC)
The Latest
Justice Maria Carroccia sent the jury home early today as Carroccia and the lawyers tried to work out a legal matter. The jury wasn’t present so we can’t report on it.Earlier today, court heard testimony from Tyler Steenbergen, a former teammate of the five men accused of sexual assault.A Crown lawyer spent most of the morning asking Steenbergen about a group text chat that began after the players learned Hockey Canada was doing an investigation.Steenbergen previously testified E.M., the complainant, asked players to have sex with her on the night of the alleged assaults in 2018.The accused — Cal Foote, Dillon Dubé, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart and Michael McLeod — have all pleaded not guilty.WARNING: Court proceedings include graphic details of alleged sexual assault and might affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone who’s been affected.Updates
May 15
7 hours ago
Jury’s been sent home so that’s all for now
Lucas Powers
The judge has sent the jury home for the day, so we’re pausing our live updates.
We hope to resume coverage tomorrow morning around 10 a.m. ET.
Thanks for following along with us. If you’re just getting here, scroll down to get caught up.
We know testimony has included details that can be difficult to read. There are support services available.
If you’re in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911. For support in your area, you can look for crisis lines and local services via the Ending Violence Association of Canada database.
7 hours ago
Court adjourned for the day
Kate Dubinski
Justice Carroccia has sent the jury home for the day because there are things she needs to discuss with the lawyers.
“I’m not going to keep you. Good news for you, you have the afternoon off. I ask you to come back tomorrow at 10 a.m. Have a good afternoon.”
That concludes our coverage for the day. We will return tomorrow at 10 a.m. when the jury is back.
8 hours ago
Judges, lawyers still in talks
Lucas Powers
Court is back but the jury and witness have not been recalled.
Justice Maria Carroccia and the lawyers are discussing a legal matter that we cannot report on.
We’ll restart our coverage of the proceedings once they are underway again.
9 hours ago
Break extended until 2 p.m.
Kate Dubinski
As the lawyers discuss some matters, we are taking an early lunch.
Court is in recess now.
We’ll continue our coverage of the proceedings once they restart.
10 hours ago
We’re now on an unexpected break
Lucas Powers
Something has transpired and Justice Maria Carroccia has put the court back on break.
The jury wasn’t present, so we are unable to report any details about what happened.
When we return, Steenbergen is expected to continue testimony before Crown lawyer Heather Donkers.
10 hours ago
Foote, Dubé call Steenbergen
Kate Dubinski
Before the break, Steenbergen testified that while the men were in the group chats, he got two brief phone calls, from Dubé and then Foote.
The conversations were brief because Steenbergen was at development camp and was trying to focus on hockey.
In the first call, Dubé told him he’d gotten a call from Bullock, the Hockey Canada executive, to tell him there’d be an investigation. Dubé told Steenbergen to “just say what you saw” and to not mention what he saw Dubé do, and that Dubé would explain that himself.
The phone call with Foote was “pretty much the same,” Steenbergen said. “Don’t say what he did, that he would go in and explain it himself.”
Steenbergen says he understood that to mean he wasn’t to mention he saw Dubé slapping the woman’s butt or saw Foote do the splits.
(Steenbergen says he was a little confused because he didn’t actually see Foote do the splits, so he was confused about why Foote called him).
Steenbergen says that when he went to speak to the investigators hired by Hockey Canada, he decided he’d tell them what he saw if specifically asked, but wouldn’t volunteer the information.
The investigators didn’t specifically ask about what he saw Dubé or Foote do, so he didn’t say anything, Steenbergen says.
10 hours ago
Email from Hockey Canada
Kate Dubinski
A bit more on what court heard before the break.
Later in the day, on June 26, Hockey Canada sent an email to the players about an investigation.
In the group chat, the players talk about how it’s “just Hockey Canada” investigating, not police.
“It’s private and no police are involved so we are all perfectly fine,” Cal Foote wrote in the chat.
On June 27, the men discuss Bullock (the Hockey Canada executive) calling each of them, as well as what he asked and what they should say.
“What do I tell him,” Carter asks in the group chat.
“He won’t ask you anything about what happen (sic),” Comtois replies.
There’s some discussion about Hockey Canada wanting to do interviews in person, and many of the men don’t want that.
“That’s ridiculous … Like this is nothing and we can’t be making this big of deal out of it,” Bean writes.
They discuss getting lawyers.
“If we just called bullock and tell him everything this probably doesn’t have to happen,” Howden tells the group.
“We didn’t rape anyone,” Comtois says.
“Everyone stop talking in here. And talk to your agents about this,” Bean advises.
10 hours ago
Morning recess
Lucas Powers
Court is taking a 20-minute break.
Steenbergen will continue testifying when proceedings resume.
11 hours agoKate Dubinski
This text from Michael McLeod, one of the accused in the world juniors trial, was in a group chat with former teammates after Hockey Canada began its investigation. The text is part of an exhibit entered into evidence. (Superior Court of Ontario)The messages continue:
“The truth is we didn’t do anything stupid … we had her consent. We didn’t force her to do anything,” Comtois writes.
McLeod replies:
“Yeah like it wasn’t her that went to the police it was her mom. No idea why but she already told me she told the police that she doesn’t want to pursue this and it was a mistake. She also text me saying sorry about all this and that she was in the wrong too. I have these texts saved.”
“Keep it,” Comtois tells him, referring to saving her texts.
Foote asks, “So we don’t mention names right.”
McLeod says, “I think we’re gonna have to,” and later advises his former teammates, “But like if you were in the room don’t lie and say u weren’t.” Bean replies, “I think it’s important to understand know (sic) one did anything wrong. Just tell the truth.”
There are more messages between the men that day, on June 26, about the possibility of speaking to Hockey Canada and about McLeod being in touch with E.M. by text in the days after the night of the alleged sexual assaults.
11 hours agoKate Dubinski
Dillon Dubé outside the courthouse. (Geoff Robins/The Canadian Press)Dubé writes, “Ya that’s all that happened so we are good. Everybody treated her fine because she gave those guys consent so it’s all good.”
Howden replies, “F–k Mikey has the video of her consenting. Like we just show bully that and we’re fine.”
Bully is Shawn Bullock, a Hockey Canada executive.
Howden writes “Nobody forced her to do anything. If anything we should put allegations on her f–k.”
McLeod then says, “I did have sex with her before everyone came in u guys know that part right.” Howden replies, “She’s the one who got naked and started begging everyone.” McLeod replies, “Yeah what should I say if they asked why I took the videos tho,” referring to the consent videos taken at the end of the night.
Bean replies, “You took the videos because you wanted to make sure nothing bad would happen. And cover yourself.”
They discuss keeping each other “in the loop” and that Hockey Canada can’t go through their phones unless police are involved.
Dubé writes, “Let’s not make her sound too crazy because if she gets wind of this and then she can get even more angry and we don’t need that so just be good about it but the truth with it.”
