Philadelphia Flyers
NOT GUILTY: Judge Acquitted Ex-Flyer Carter Hart
Thursday morning, Judge Maria Carroccia deemed that the evidence provided by the prosecution was “not credible” in the sexual assault trial, including former Flyers goaltender Carter Hart.
Five players, including Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, and Hart, were on trial for a 2018 sexual assault in London, Ontario. (Insert everyone’s charges).
Justice Carroccia said she “could not find the evidence of E.M. credible or reliable.” She also said, “In this case, I have found actual consent not vitiated by fear.”
Judge Carroccia will hand down the ruling Thursday.
Quotes by Judge Carroccia via the London Free Press
UPDATE
Judge Carroccia has found Carter Hart NOT GUILTY in the 2018 sexual assault trial. The judge acquitted all five players.
“In my view, the plaintiff exaggerated her intoxication,” said Judge Carroccia. The judge concludes by saying, “I conclude that I cannot rely on (her testimony).”
Regarding the group chat, Judge Carroccia did not see any wrong doing. “The Crown suggests that the players concocted the evidence. I disagree with this characterization. They were recounting their recollections.”
As for the future of the Hart and the rest of the players, there is no immediate indication there will be a return to the NHL. All players will have to apply to be reinstated by the league.
Further, the Flyers do not have control Hart’s contract anymore, as he is a UFA.
Updates will be provided when more information becomes available.
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I don’t know much about Canadian law, but it sounds like this is headed for the equivalent of an emphatic “Not Guilty” verdict.
If that’s the case, let’s hope Hart can get his form back and Briere/Jones can get Hart to sign here again.
That said, I don’t believe there was any special status or relief granted to any of the players and the teams they played for when they left to prep for their trial. I seem to remember that Flyers didn’t re-sign him while he was on leave for “personal reasons”, and I assume that makes him a free agent.
If that’s the case, my guess is that the Oilers find a way to sign him, and he finishes the puzzle for the Cup dreams in that part of Canada.
William, do you remember anything about their status while in trial? Do the Flyers have any claim to him at this point?
No claim to him at all. He’s a free agent. “Wherever, he want to go”
Oilers now can now go get hometown guy Hart and go for the Cup.
Bettman now says the NHL will investigate and take action…….how can that be..they are ruled innocent of any crime.
Innocent of a crime, Yes. Assuming no appeal. They still acted immorally. It would be a huge PR nightmare for the NHL is they don’t take their own form of action.
Once upon a time the Black Sox were acquitted in a “court of law”, but still banned from baseball by the commissioner. Gary Bettman is far too weak a commissioner to take such a stance, but the 5 defendants are far from innocent. Frankly, I don’t care if Hart signs with the Oilers and wins the next 10 Stanley cups. I still don’t want him on the Flyers! His successful return would be a black mark for the NHL and the Canadian justice system.
I’ll admit I haven’t been following this too closely, so I’ll rely on those in the courtroom who were. Obviously they were found not guilty, and the judge was pretty emphatic that the accuser was “not credible”.
I don’t know whether the League wants to go down the road of enforcing morality, particularly since this was previously investigated by law enforcement and initially prosecution was declined. Then after public outcry by activists, the case was reopened only to result in the verdict yesterday.
How many times does it have to be investigated for people to accept that apparently there’s nothing there to prosecute or punish?
To me, it sounds like there was bad judgement on all parties, but I’m not sure that’s something that is punishable by the League under the CBA. Add to that the fact that I don’t think that Hart was even in the League at the time, so I’m not sure the League has the jurisdiction to enforce anything.
I’m not sure about the law in Canada, but if this happened here in the US I’d expect there to be a civil suit by the players to allege malicious prosecution. I’d also expect there to be a suit against the League to determine if there was any pressure or collusion to force the teams into not resigning the players (assuming that’s what happened with the other players as well).
NHLPA has now decided to step up for the players……referencing CBA restrictions on player ineligibility.
After 6/7 years, it was always going to be tough to convict the players. Even had it been tried when it happened it could still have been “everyone was young and stupid and made bad decisions”. But dismantling the slush fund operated by Hockey Canada used to payoff people and coverup this type of behavior is a good thing. Coaches should have already started telling players that just because they’re probably going to play in the NHL doesn’t give them special rights. Parents always should be telling their kids of potential consequences when they make bad decisions. Will Bettman be able to use the personal conduct policy is unclear because they were not NHL players when this happened and it might have been before they instituted it. Any team that signs one of these players will undoubtedly see blowback from some fans like when Montreal drafted Logan Mailloux, but I think the players should be allowed to resume their careers.