Former Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard’s second sexual assault trial has come to a close, with the jury not being made aware of key evidence from the first trial.
Hoggard, who has been accused of sexually assaulting three women, was found not guilty on one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual interference in his first trial in 2019. However, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the other charges, leading to a mistrial.
In the second trial, which began in November 2020, the jury was not informed of the previous trial’s outcome. This decision was made by the judge, who believed that the jury should not be influenced by the previous verdict.
As a result, the jury was not made aware of key evidence from the first trial, including testimony from one of the accusers and a video of Hoggard’s police interrogation.
The Crown argued that this evidence was crucial in establishing a pattern of behavior and proving the credibility of the accusers. However, the judge ruled that the evidence was not relevant to the current trial and could potentially prejudice the jury.
The decision to withhold this evidence has sparked controversy and raised questions about the fairness of the trial. Critics argue that the jury should have been made aware of all the evidence in order to make an informed decision.
Hoggard’s lawyer, Ian Smith, stated that the jury’s inability to reach a verdict in the first trial was a clear indication that the evidence was not strong enough to convict his client. He also argued that the judge’s decision to withhold the evidence was the correct one.
The jury began deliberations on Monday and will continue on Tuesday. They will have to decide whether Hoggard is guilty of two counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual interference.
Hoggard has maintained his innocence throughout both trials and has not made any public statements regarding the current trial.
The outcome of this trial will have significant implications for both Hoggard and the #MeToo movement in Canada. The verdict is expected to be announced in the coming days.
