Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard is taking the stand in his northeastern Ontario sexual assault trial.
The complainant who accuses Hoggard of raping, choking, slapping and urinating on her after a concert in Kirkland Lake, Ont., eight years ago finished her emotional testimony on Friday.
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard is pictured in Toronto on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alex Lupul)
Hoggard pleaded not guilty to sexual assault at the beginning of the trial taking place in the community of Haileybury.
Defence lawyer Megan Savard said in an opening statement this morning that Hoggard will tell the jury he and the complainant flirted over the course of a bonfire after-party and had a one-night stand.
She says there is no doubt in Hoggard’s mind that the encounter was consensual.
Savard says two crew members who worked the Hedley concert that night will also testify about the events leading up to the after party, and she expects them to contradict the complainant’s story.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 1, 2024.
Opening arguments are expected to get underway today in the sexual assault trial of Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alexandra Newbould
Background
Jacob Hoggard was charged in 2022 for an alleged sexual assault in Kirkland Lake on June 25, 2016.
His former band had performed the night before at the small town’s homecoming festival.
In December 2022, he elected to be tried by a jury rather than by a judge alone.
Fourteen jurors were selected Monday, including two alternates. The two alternates were dismissed as the testimony got underway.
Tremblay is presiding over the trial at the Haileybury courthouse.
The case is being prosecuted by Crown Attorney Lilly Gates and Assistant Crown Attorney Peter Keen while Hoggard is being defended by attorneys Megan Savard and Kally Ho.
Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Dalton Crockett, the lead investigator in the case, is sitting behind the Crown attorney’s table and expects to be present throughout the trial.
Hoggard stood up in court Monday morning and pled not guilty to the sexual assault charges.