“London Police to Hold News Conference on Investigation into Alleged Sexual Assault by Canada’s 2018 World Junior Hockey Team Members”

1. “London police investigation into 2018 sexual assault allegations”
2. “Update on London police probe into 2018 sexual assault case”.

Accident – Death – Obituary News : London police have announced that they will be holding a news conference next month to provide an update on an investigation into an alleged sexual assault involving five members of Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team. The press conference is scheduled to take place on Monday, February 5, 2024.

The announcement comes after the Globe and Mail reported earlier today that the five players have been ordered to turn themselves in to face sexual assault charges. The alleged assault took place in June 2018 in a London hotel room following a Hockey Canada fundraising gala. The players have been given a timeline to surrender to police.

While the police are unable to provide further details at this time, they acknowledge the significant public interest in the case and have scheduled the news conference to share more information. The investigation has gained attention in recent years, with the allegations initially coming to light in May 2022 when a complainant filed a $3.5-million lawsuit against Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League, and eight unnamed players.

The lawsuit alleged that the players assaulted the woman inside a hotel room after meeting her at a bar. The players bought her drinks, causing her to become intoxicated, and engaged in consensual sexual acts initially. However, the woman claims that other players were later invited into the room without her consent and proceeded to sexually assault her for several hours.

The woman reported the incident to the police, who conducted an investigation but ultimately did not file charges. However, the case resurfaced in 2022 when the lawsuit was settled, leading to controversy surrounding Hockey Canada’s response to the allegations.

The law firm that represented the woman in her civil lawsuit has released a statement in response to the media reports about the criminal case. They stated that their focus was on the civil lawsuit and that they are no longer retained by the client. The law firm emphasized their commitment to taking on sexual assault cases and highlighted the importance of accountability and deterrence.

As the investigation continues, five members of the 2018 world junior team, including a former London Knight, have been granted indefinite leaves of absence by their respective professional teams. The players will likely turn themselves in to the police, but the details of their release or potential bail are yet to be determined.

The upcoming news conference will provide further insight into the progress of the investigation and may shed light on the next steps in the legal process. The case has attracted significant attention, and many are eager to see justice served and accountability upheld..

1. “London police investigation into 2018 sex assault allegations”
2. “Update on London police probe into 2018 sexual assault case”.