Jury begins deliberations in Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial
-- WARNING -- The following details of the sexual assault case may be disturbing, discretion is advised.
The jury tasked with determining if Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard sexually assaulted a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago began deliberating Friday after nearly two weeks of testimony that saw the singer and his accuser give starkly different accounts of what happened.
The former Hedley frontman has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault in the June 25, 2016 encounter that took place in Kirkland Lake, Ont.
Both the Crown and defence agree that a sexual encounter took place in Hoggard's hotel room that night after a concert and bonfire after-party, meaning the case has centred on the question of consent.
The complainant and the singer both took the stand during the trial. The woman, whose identity is protected under a standard publication ban, was the Crown's only witness.
The complainant, who was 19 at the time, says Hoggard raped, choked, hit and urinated on her, and called her names like "dirty little piggy."
Hoggard said they flirted all night, then had a consensual one-night stand.
In his final instructions Friday, Ontario Superior Court Justice Robin Tremblay told jurors that in order to find Hoggard guilty, they must believe beyond a reasonable doubt that the complainant did not consent to the specific sexual activity she said occurred, and that Hoggard knew she did not consent.
Consenting to one sexual act does not mean consent is given for any or all other acts, and silence, submission or lack of resistance do not signify consent, he explained Friday. Nor does following Hoggard to his hotel room indicate consent, he added.
If the jury believes Hoggard's testimony, or it leaves them with a reasonable doubt, they must acquit him, Tremblay said.
Even if they do not believe Hoggard and his testimony does not leave them with a reasonable doubt, they must find him not guilty unless the rest of the evidence convinces them beyond a reasonable doubt that the complainant did not consent and he knew she did not consent, the judge said.
Jurors, consisting of three men and nine women, were sent to start deliberations shortly before 1 p.m. Oct. 4.
Lawyers for the Crown and the defence each made a final pitch to the jury on Thursday.
- Download the CTV News app now
- Get local breaking news alerts
- Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
Defence lawyers for the singer suggested Thursday the woman lied about the nature of the encounter to cover up her infidelity and preserve her relationships with her boyfriend and family.
They further argued her account of what happened that night was rife with inconsistencies, with several details changing over time.
Prosecutors argued the woman had no reason to lie, noting there was no evidence the people in her life were aware of the incident, aside from a cousin who accompanied her to the concert.
The Crown disputed some of the alleged inaccuracies in her testimony, including details about the vehicle she rode in on her way to the bonfire.
Prosecutor Peter Keen acknowledged there were some inconsistencies on "peripheral details" of her account but argued she remained "unshaken" on the core elements of her allegations.
Most of this report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 4, 2024.
Background
Hoggard was charged in 2022 with sexual assault in relation to an incident that allegedly occurred in Kirkland Lake, Ont., on June 25, 2016.
He performed with his band Hedley at the Kirkland Lake Homecoming festival the day before the alleged incident.
Superior Court Justice Robin Tremblay is presiding over the trial at the Haileybury courthouse in Temiskaming Shores.
The trial is expected to last seven days, but two weeks have been set aside.
Hoggard is being defended by attorneys Megan Savard and Kally Ho.
Throughout the proceedings, the accused can be seen sitting at a table next to his legal team wearing a black suit, white dress shirt and black tie.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge against him Monday.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Crown Attorney Peter Keen and Crown Attorney Lilly Gates.
Hoggard was the lead singer of the rock band Hedley until 2018 when the band announced it went into an indefinite hiatus.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Feds move to end port strikes, order binding arbitration
Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon says he is intervening to end the work stoppages at ports in both British Columbia and Montreal.
Canada Post workers issue 72-hour strike notice
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has given a 72-hour strike notice to Canada Post.
'He begged me': Brampton, Ont. woman loses more than $200K to romance scam
A Brampton woman says she is devastated after she lost more than $200,000 — her life's savings — to a romance scam.
Driver rams his car into crowd in China, killing 35. Police say he was upset about his divorce
A man who authorities said was upset over his divorce settlement rammed his car into a crowd of people exercising at a sports complex in southern China, killing 35 and severely injuring dozens of others, police said Tuesday.
Federal judge blocks Louisiana law that requires classrooms to display Ten Commandments
A new Louisiana requirement that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public classroom by Jan. 1 was temporarily blocked Tuesday by a federal judge who said the law is 'unconstitutional on its face.'
Ottawa high school principal apologizes for song played during Remembrance Day assembly
The principal of an Ottawa high school is apologizing to students, parents and guardians after an Arabic-language song was played during the school's Remembrance Day service.
Judge extends the time to indict the driver accused of killing Johnny Gaudreau and his brother
The driver charged with killing NHL hockey player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, as they were cycling on a rural New Jersey road briefly appeared in court Tuesday, where the judge extended the window for prosecutors to seek an indictment.
Church of England head Justin Welby resigns over handling of sex abuse scandal
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, head of the Church of England and spiritual leader of the global Anglican Communion, resigned Tuesday after an investigation found that he failed to tell police about serial physical and sexual abuse by a volunteer at Christian summer camps as soon as he became aware of it.
Earth's biggest polluters aren't sending leaders to UN climate talks in a year of weather extremes
World leaders are converging Tuesday at the United Nations annual climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan although the big names and powerful countries are noticeably absent, unlike past climate talks which had the star power of a soccer World Cup.