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A jury of ten men and four women will begin hearing evidence Thursday in the long-delayed sexual assault trial of Henley frontman Jacob Hoggard.
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Hoggard, 37, was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual interference and two of sexual assault causing bodily harm involving a teenager and a woman that allegedly occurred in 2016.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Gillian Roberts offered a brief synopsis of the allegations.
“It is alleged that Mr. Hoggard sexually interfered with (complainant A) after a concert at the Air Canada Centre on April 29, 2016 and sexually assaulted her, causing her bodily harm, in a hotel room near the airport on Sept. 30, 2016,” the judge told the jury pool.
“It is alleged that Mr. Hoggard sexually assaulted (complainant B) causing her bodily harm in a hotel room in downtown Toronto on Nov. 22, 2016.
“The things I have told you about this case are only allegations at this point — I have described them at this point only to ask if you have personal knowledge about this case.”
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When no one indicated that they had, jury selection continued.
Each potential juror was asked whether they had heard about the allegations involving Hoggard and, if they had, whether they’d come to any conclusion about his guilt. By mid-afternoon, the 14 jury members had been chosen.
“At this time, I must ask you to banish from your minds all present information and bias you may have about this case or other ones like it,” Roberts told them. “Do not try to gather your own evidence during the trial. Refrain from reading, listening to or observing any media coverage.”
Prosecutors are expected to begin with their opening statement Thursday morning.
Hoggard was set to stand trial in January 2021, but the case was repeatedly postponed as jury trials were shut down due to pandemic health restrictions.
After the allegations surfaced in February 2018, Hoggard said he was putting his career on hold and posted a statement on Twitter denying any non-consensual sexual conduct.
mmandel@postmedia.com
Article content
A jury of ten men and four women will begin hearing evidence Thursday in the long-delayed sexual assault trial of Henley frontman Jacob Hoggard.
Article content
Hoggard, 37, was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual interference and two of sexual assault causing bodily harm involving a teenager and a woman that allegedly occurred in 2016.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Gillian Roberts offered a brief synopsis of the allegations.
“It is alleged that Mr. Hoggard sexually interfered with (complainant A) after a concert at the Air Canada Centre on April 29, 2016 and sexually assaulted her, causing her bodily harm, in a hotel room near the airport on Sept. 30, 2016,” the judge told the jury pool.
“It is alleged that Mr. Hoggard sexually assaulted (complainant B) causing her bodily harm in a hotel room in downtown Toronto on Nov. 22, 2016.
“The things I have told you about this case are only allegations at this point — I have described them at this point only to ask if you have personal knowledge about this case.”
Article content
When no one indicated that they had, jury selection continued.
Each potential juror was asked whether they had heard about the allegations involving Hoggard and, if they had, whether they’d come to any conclusion about his guilt. By mid-afternoon, the 14 jury members had been chosen.
“At this time, I must ask you to banish from your minds all present information and bias you may have about this case or other ones like it,” Roberts told them. “Do not try to gather your own evidence during the trial. Refrain from reading, listening to or observing any media coverage.”
Prosecutors are expected to begin with their opening statement Thursday morning.
Hoggard was set to stand trial in January 2021, but the case was repeatedly postponed as jury trials were shut down due to pandemic health restrictions.
After the allegations surfaced in February 2018, Hoggard said he was putting his career on hold and posted a statement on Twitter denying any non-consensual sexual conduct.
mmandel@postmedia.com