National Post – Jamie Sarkonak: Hockey Canada judge believed in truth, not ‘believe all women’
Phil has a question:
Why is everyone so astonished when the judicial system works the way it is supposed to.
Edmonton Journal – Kristin Raworth – Opinion: Hockey Canada trial exposes culture of victim-blaming
“Does a failure of character mean that someone should go to jail? It does not. The hope that I have is that coming out of this, hockey, and society at large, will realize that you need to think about your actions and avoid putting yourselves in situations like this and act with character, not act as the situation allows you to act. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”
TSN – CP – Calls for hockey culture change continue after decision in sexual assault trial
When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.
Billy Graham
Phil has a question:
In the court of uninformed public opinion is it better for the players that they were found not guilty after a trial than not have a trial and being accused about the fix being in.
How many uninformed opinionators will read Justice Maria Carrocia’s decision before spouting off their opinions.
Have you read Justice Maria Carrocia’s decision.
If buyer’s remorse is used when you feel stupid after buying that useless piece of junk some influencer was touting, what do you call the next morning remorse.
Feeling Bad After a One Night Stand: Regret and Reflection
While we’re taking abut 5s how about
The Famous Five: Trailblazing Women Who Changed Canada Forever
The Famous 5 – Emily Murphy. Nellie McClung. Henrietta Muir Edwards. Louise McKinney. Irene Parlby
Yes, well…that’s democracy for you. Come on.
Fifth Dr. Who
Hockey Canada’s Issues Go Beyond A Few Bad Apples – The Entire System Needs To Be Re-engineered
Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.
Albert Einstein
Phil has a question:
Would you want any of these guys on your team when every away game will be full of signs with wee dicky comments.
Knowledge will give you power, but character respect.
Bruce Lee
Content warning: The following contains material that may offend some ears and eyes.
Phil has a question:
Why should women’s rights claims be taken seriously when a majority of them still vote for misogynist, racist, criminal bastards like wee dicky Donny the fucking fat, lying con Trump.
The obscure we see eventually. The completely obvious, it seems, takes longer.
Edward R. Murrow
Did the complainant in this case bear the brunt of the wrath that the judge was venting on the prosecution.
Can Phil use this song.
Sports do not build character. They reveal it.
Heywood Broun
In a circus, everyone plays a part. Even the audience.
Tom Waits
TSN – Rick Westhead – Players acquitted of all charges at London hockey trial
Phil has a question:
Why does it feel like everyone is a loser.
What ever happened to the parties who failed to provide proper guidance for those players that night.
If the players were the same colour as Evander Kane would the London police have investigated differently.
“They’d face a lot more scrutiny from the Canadian public,” he said. “I think they probably could play again. And especially if you consider that the vast majority of the NHL is in the United States, there’s a pretty significant cultural shift going on down there where the rights of women are under attack.”
TSN – NHL says five players acquitted of sexual assault ineligible to play
SportsNet – NHL says players acquitted of sexual assault ineligible for return while under review
Phil has a question:
How will Gary Bettman handle the re-entry of these players to the NHL.
How many years should McLeod be suspended for taking a video without consent.
In June, Bettman said at his state of the league address before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final that he would let the judicial process play out but “what has been alleged is abhorrent, disgusting and shouldn’t be tolerated.”
It was a circus almost from the start.
National Post – Jane Sims – All five players acquitted in Hockey Canada sexual assault trial
Having found that I cannot rely upon the evidence from E.M. and considering the evidence in this trial as a whole, I conclude that the crown cannot meet its onus on any of the counts before me,” Carroccia said.
Rather leave the crime of the guilty unpunished than condemn the innocent.
Marcus Tullius Cicero
Phil has a question:
How will Gary Bettman and the NHL handle the re-entry of the players after it took such hard ass stances with Logan Mailloux, Joel Quenneville. Al MacIsaac and Stan Bowman.
How will the NHL handle the player contracts which have now expired.
Did you notice that Phil’s theory on the verdict was correct with the timing a touch off.
Where is Marcia Clark these days.
After the verdict did the players and their lawyers head over to Jacks for a celebratory drink.
Lawsuits are rare and catastrophic experiences for the vast majority of men, and even when the catastrophe ensues, the controversy relates most often not to the law, but to the facts. In countless litigations, the law Is so clear that judges have no discretion.
Benjamin N. Cardozo
All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand! Oh, oh, oh!
William Shakespeare
SportsNet – Paul D. Grant – All five hockey players found not guilty in London sexual assault trial
In a closed society where everybody’s guilty, the only crime is getting caught.
Hunter S. Thompson
TSN – Players acquitted of all charges at London hockey trial
To look is one thing. To see is another.
Hunter S. Thompson
Every country gets the circus it deserves. Spain gets bullfights. Italy gets the Catholic Church. America gets Hollywood.
Erica Jong
Every country gets the circus it deserves. Spain gets bullfights. Italy gets the Catholic Church. America gets Hollywood The White House. Canada gets a Hockey Canada sexual assault trial.
Phil M. Stockmen update
Phil has a question:
Why isn’t the judicial system in Canada selling tickets to this circus to help defray the costs of this and other trials.
Clowns are the pegs on which the circus is hung.
P. T. Barnum
Phil has a question:
Would we be having this trial if the players were all Hounds of Notre Dame.
TSN – CP – Judge set to deliver ruling Thursday after turbulent London Hockey Trial
TSN – CP – London Hockey Trial: What court heard about each of the five accused
Phil has a question:
Does it weigh on the judge’s mind that the players are certain to appeal any finding of guilt and the Crown less likely to appeal a not guilty verdict.
The Honourable Maria V. Carroccia’s Questionnaire
TSN – Judge to announce verdicts on July 24 in London Hockey Trial
Legal liability requires the high bar of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. But in the measure of moral culpability there is less room for absolution.
Consider, from the players’ perspective, the most generous explanation for that night is one in which the entirety of E.M’s testimony is rejected.
In that version, the players went to a room where a lone woman laid naked after consensual sex with one of their teammates. That woman, surrounded by nearly a dozen players, by varying accounts, goaded them into sexual acts — despite their shock and apprehension. A sheet was laid on the ground. They received oral sex from her, in front of their teammates. One had vaginal sex with her in the bathroom. At least one tapped her buttocks. One stood over her and lowered his crotch toward her torso in the splits. It was an embarrassing, but exciting situation. Her sexually charged taunts made them feel awkward, as they shared chicken wings and mozzarella sticks they had ordered.
Even in that interpretation, it is difficult to imagine that a single player in that room made a decision they are proud to explain.
Phil has a question:
If the London 5 are found not criminally guilty, will the NHL apply the same stiff penalties that Logan Mailloux faced.
SportsNet – Paul D. Grant – Judge hears final arguments at hockey sexual assault trial
CBC – Karen Pauls – For some, it’s #MeToo vs. #HimToo at the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial
If you’re upset by something I said, you have bigger problems than you think.
RuPaul
WHAT’S NEXT
June 9: All five primary lawyers for the accused will start presenting their closing submissions in the case. When they are done, the Crown will follow with its closing arguments. After that, Carroccia will tell the court when she expects to present her findings and her ruling. That exact date is not expected to be soon, although expectations are that the defence will push for sooner than later.
SportsNet – Paul D. Grant – Hockey sexual assault trial: How we got here and what’s next
On Monday, Ryan was called to testify by Formenton’s lawyer, Daniel Brown.
Ryan testified that in the summer of 2022, when Hockey Canada’s decision to settle a civil lawsuit filed by E.M. became public, she was working for the London Police Service’s sexual assault and child abuse unit and was initially given three weeks to review the department’s first investigation of E.M.’s allegations.
Earlier, retired LPS sergeant Stephen Newton testified that he interviewed four of the members of Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team in November and December 2018 before deciding to close the case without laying charges in February 2019. Videos of McLeod and Formenton’s interviews were played in court, as was an audio recording of Dube’s interview.
…
Hart’s lawyer, Riaz Sayani, asked Ryan about a July 28, 2022, phone call in which she spoke to E.M. about her statement to Hockey Canada. The statement, Sayani suggested, contained “significant differences” with her initial 2018 police interview.
In her 2018 statement, E.M. was “self-blaming and not sure if what happened was wrong,” Ryan testified.
Four years later, in her statement to Hockey Canada, “[E.M.] seems to understand how she felt and that what happened in that room was wrong,” Ryan said, reading from her investigative notes.
In the notes, Ryan wrote that she attributed the change to having four years to process what had happened and understand that “acquiescence was not consent.”
TSN – Rick Westhead – Testimony concludes at London hockey trial
The Athletic – Katie Strang and Dan Robson
When you find yourself in a whole, the first thing to do is to stop digging.
Cowboy Wisdom
Phil has a theory:
Closing arguments begin Monday June 9, 2025 and will drag on for a week or two. The judge starts her review of evidence and making her decision in late June or early July. Judge will take about 4 months before decision is rendered, effectively keeping the London 5 out of professional hockey for the 2025 – 2026 season. Then judge will find there was reasonable doubt and render a not guilty decision.
Then the NHL is faced with how to handle the re-entry of the players after it took such a hard ass stance with Logan Mailloux.
Then the NHL will be tasked on how it handles their contracts which have now run out.
Phil has a question:
Were can you place a wager on the verdict.
Will Don the Con, the robotic clown, want the London 5 in Washington since they emulate behaviour he condones.
With the London Knights winning the 2025 Memorial Cup will they be celebrating at Jacks.
Hart’s testimony came after Michael McLeod declined the opportunity to testify in the case.
TDN – Rick Westhead – Crown rests case, Hart takes the stand at London hockey trial
SportsNet – Paul D. Grant – Court shown Dube, Formenton police interviews at London trial
Phil has a question:
Are Dube and Formenton and the lawyers who let them be interviewed getting dumb and dumber T-shirts printed.
Were Det. Stephen Newton, who is now retired, and the London police as negligent as they appear or were they just looking for a rug to sweep this mess under.
Have any of these guys heard of Miranda or Omerta.
SportsNet – Paul D Grant – McLeod’s interview with police shown in London court
Phil has a question:
Are McLeod and the lawyer who let him be interviewed getting dumb and dumber T-shirts printed.
It does not require many words to speak the truth.
Chief Joseph
Phil has a question:
How much deeper of a hole will Mcleod’s lawyer dig his client into with his cross-examination.
Will ineffective counsel be McLeod’s No. 1 ground of appeal.
When you find yourself in a whole, the first thing to do is to stop digging.
Cowboy Wisdom:
Phil has a question:
Have any of these guys heard of Miranda or Omerta.
Phil has a question:
Would Matlock ever alienate a juror.
If the London courthouse is so old and decrepit what is eastern Canada doing with all of the Alberta oil money transfer payments.
Did Formenton’s lawyers cause the mistrial deliberately because of their perception that they had alienated the jury with their cross-examination of EM.
Did Formenton’s lawyers cause the mistrial deliberately because of their perception that the jury was leaning towards conviction.
Did Formenton’s lawyers cause the mistrial deliberately because of their perception that they were losing in the pick the jury chairman pool.
Will Formenton’s first ground of appeal be ineffective counsel.
Have they run out of tinfoil in London.
Our Lawyer Made Us Change The Name Of This Song So We Wouldn’t Get Sued
The development came a day after Carroccia was handed a note from a juror after the morning recess. In the absence of the jury, the judge read the note aloud.
“Multiple jury members feel we are being judged and made fun of by lawyers [Daniel] Brown and Hilary Dudding,” the note said. “Every day when we enter the courtroom they observe us, whisper to each other and turn to each other and laugh as if they are discussing our appearance. This is unprofessional and unacceptable.”
TSN – Rick Westhead – Judge discharges jury at London hockey trial
Phil has a question:
If the London V are found not guilty would you want any of them on your city’s hockey team.
Jurors were dismissed after one submitted a note to the judge on Thursday saying some members felt lawyers for the defence of one of the accused were making fun of them when they were walking in.
SportsNet – Paul D. Grant – Judge dismisses jury in hockey sexual assault trial
If the facts are on your side, pound the facts. If the law is on your side, pound the law. If neither the facts nor the law are on your side, pound the table.
Lawyers Wisdom
Phil has a question:
Do you think the lawyers’ conduct was deliberate.
Wasn’t it a comment from Dudding to a juror that caused the first mistrial.
Did their conduct backfire for their clients.
Will their clients make bail while going through the appeal process.
Were the lawyers discussing their side bet about who the jury would select as chairman.
Will EM start calling the accused geezers when the court finally hears a new trail after the numerous appeals.
The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
TSN – Rick Westhead – Judge declares mistrial in London hockey case
SportsNet – Paul D. Grant – Mistrial in hockey sexual assault case, new jury to be selected
Phil has a question:
Is Marcia Clark the lead prosecutor.
Did their hockey gloves not fit.
Hockey Canada’s Issues Go Beyond A Few Bad Apples – The Entire System Needs To Be Re-engineered
Phil M. Stockmen
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