In Toronto, Jacob Hoggard’s defense on Friday attacked the credibility of the first complainant on the second day of the trial of the Hedley group singer for sexual charges and for facts starting in 2016 in the Toronto area. .
The 37-year-old musician has been accused of inappropriate intercourse with a minor and sexual assault causing harm to an adult and the same teenager who has testified since Thursday at hearings.
Jacob Hoggard’s defense continued offensively, first noticing contradictions in the plaintiff’s testimony at trial and in his appearance at his client’s preliminary hearing in 2019.
Some dates and some facts are incompatible and the young woman even acknowledges that she has made corrections to the text of her first statement.
However, I had a better memory than three years agoexplanation of the complainant, whose identity is protected by the publication ban.
The singer’s lawyer Megan Savard also mentioned to the 21-year-old woman that she often uses conditional and lacks certainty in her words because she can’t remember the duration of certain events.
He suggests that the Complainant change his story, that he forgot specific details in his meetings with his client and that he did not understand the events at the time.
End of interrogation
The girl boldly recounted in detail earlier on the stand the rape that she said was the victim at a hotel at Pearson airport in Toronto on September 30, 2016.
He explained that Jacob Hoggard had invited him there under the guise of, promising him a lunch with his music group and a tour of the metropolis.
I was surprised to find myself in her room, but the group was gonehe says [la femme a 16 ans à l’époque et le chanteur 33, NDLR].
He said he did not recognize him immediately, because he had a mustache and sunglasses.
He pointed out that the singer was aggressive and busy with cannabis that smell on his clothes [la] revolted.
The girl then said that she had started kissing him a little against her will, but she could not bear to hug him because it was so fragrant. I want to leave himhe continued.
She said Jacob Hoggard did not listen to her, forcing her to the bed to undress and rape her.
He hit me, he slandered me and he spat at mehe said, pulling himself, a handkerchief in his hand, into the witness box.
He said he was crying and begging to stop, but his trial lasted more than two hours. Even a cellphone call [du chanteur] he did not interrupthe recalled.
” I can’t understand how a gentle, kind and flattering man can turn so quickly into a disrespectful, vulgar and indifferent monster. “
The complainant pointed out that he took advantage of his absence from the bathroom to call a friend and convince the singer that his boss expected him to work earlier than expected that day.
He said he went to his friend’s house to change and wash. I was hurt and I saw I was bloody and had bruises all over my body.
She admitted that she did not agree to go to the hospital for vaginal laceration as suggested by her friend.
The girl clarified that she had finally disclosed everything to her mother and she had gone to the hospital for examination.
He also explained that he had previously refused to file a complaint with the police, because he thought he would pass his trial. I was embarrassed, I was dirty and I was scaredhe admits.
He contends that he then experienced a few moments of panic, nightmares and flashbacks.
A report by CBC about a second plaintiff finally convincing him to file a complaint against the singer in March 2018.
Cross-examination
The defense is questioning the veracity of the events at the hotel. Me Savard, for example, suggests that the young woman did nothing to leave the room when her client left to go to the bathroom.
The complainant acknowledged that she remained naked in bed for at least four minutes instead of getting up and getting dressed right away.
Me Savard also said the complainant did not call 911 or even a member of his family when he was carrying his cell phone.
They were all at work and I knew my friend would get back to me sooner.explanation of the complainant.
You should run down the hall, especially if the door isn’t locked, take the elevator and call a taxithe lawyer asked.
Me Savard reminded the court that the girl waited more for Jacob Hoggard to bring a limousine to the hotel to take her home, as she did on the outdoor trip.
I was scared of him and I was scared that he would quickly come out of the bathroom to stop me from coming outhe replied.
teenage love
Hoggard’s Defense showed a naive teenage girl who had a crush on her client since her first gig at age 10, fell in love with him, and collected memorabilia about the Hedley band.
A fact that the plaintiff can easily accept, even now. I was 5 the first time I heard their musiche says.
The girl also admitted in her testimony that she took screenshots of all their text messages for her collage album.
Me Savard added that their initial communications were not harmful in pre-adolescence, but over time they led to a romantic relationshipthen to a personal relationship with a sexual nature.
The lawyer, however, instructed the complainant that all compromise messages prior to or following the meeting on September 30, 2016 were deleted and it does not appear in the screenshots he used to capture when he was younger.
Some messages do not apply to your concern?asked Me Savard, suggesting that they should mention that the complainant wanted to have sex with his client.
I actually deleted some, because it hurt me and I felt like a victim again.he defended himself by referring to the messages he received when he left the hotel.
Me Savard also suggests that the complainant continued to contact his client after that date, contrary to his claim, but he deleted the text messages.
No, I never contacted him again after that dayhe concludes.
The cross-examination continues on Monday.
Source: Radio-Canada
