Team Canada sexual assault case: Defence ridicules ‘useless’ witness as trial spirals into courtroom chaos

The sexual assault trial involving five former members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior hockey team took another dramatic turn on Day 16, as the defence sharply criticized Crown witness Brett Howden, calling him “generally useless” following a day of conflicting testimony. Howden, who now plays for the Vegas Golden Knights, was under scrutiny for inconsistencies in his statements surrounding an alleged group sexual assault that took place in London, Ontario.Justice Maria Carroccia ruled that although Howden’s testimony revealed some contradictions, there was no evidence he was intentionally misleading the court or pretending to forget. “In my view at this stage, I cannot find that Mr. Howden is feigning lack of memory or is being insincere about whether he has a recollection of his earlier statements or particulars of the events he’s asked to describe,” Carroccia said.The decision followed an application by Crown attorney Meaghan Cunningham to cross-examine Howden under Section 9(2) of the Canada Evidence Act. The Crown highlighted 18 areas where his testimony had allegedly shifted, but Justice Carroccia found only four to be materially inconsistent. Still, she stopped short of allowing cross-examination, deferring that decision for now.In a striking moment, Carter Hart’s defence attorney, Megan Savard, launched a scathing critique of Howden’s credibility and demeanor. “The witness is plainly unsophisticated. He didn’t come to court dressed for court [he had messy hair and was wearing a brown hoodie]. He is inarticulate and a poor communicator... I would say, if anything, we may all say at the end of the day, this witness is generally useless,” she said.Also Read: Is $96M Mikko Rantanen just a playoff fraud? — Stars fans furious after Game 5 no-showThe trial centers on allegations that Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, and Callan Foote sexually assaulted a woman in a hotel room during the early hours of June 19, 2018, following a Hockey Canada event. McLeod faces an additional charge of being a party to the offence. All five players have pleaded not guilty. The case continues to unfold as the court navigates witness testimony and legal maneuvering.