Jacob Hoggard and consent in Canada
A jury found former Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard guilty of sexually assaulting an Ottawa woman, but not guilty on charges related to a teenage fan. What the trial reveals about consent in Canada, and the tensions between criminal justice and sexual assault accusations.
WARNING: This episode contains graphic allegations and details of sexual assault.
On June 5, after six days of deliberation, a jury found former Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard guilty of sexually assaulting an Ottawa woman.
The jury also acquitted Hoggard of sexually assaulting a fan who was 16 years old during a separate encounter, and of a sexual interference charge related to accusations he touched her when she was still 15.
What happened in the jury room is a secret, but consent and the credibility of the accusers were key points in the proceedings. Today, a summary of what happened at the trial, and a conversation with lawyer Megan Stephens about the tensions that continue between criminal justice and accusations of sexual assault.
Corrections
- This episode originally referred to one of the complainants as the accused. It has since been corrected.Jun 22, 2022 5:20 PM EDT