Former Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard found guilty of sexually assaulting Ottawa woman
WARNING: This text incorporates graphic content material and should have an effect on those that have skilled sexual violence or know somebody affected by it.
Canadian rock musician Jacob Hoggard has been discovered responsible of sexual assault inflicting bodily hurt after violently raping an Ottawa lady within the fall of 2016, however a Toronto jury acquitted him of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old fan.
The previous Hedley frontman was additionally acquitted of 1 rely of sexual interference, an offence that refers to touching somebody below 16. The cost stemmed from an allegation that the musician had groped the youthful complainant at considered one of his live shows when she was 15.
Hoggard, 37, pleaded not responsible to all three prices, and his trial started within the Ontario Superior Court docket of Justice on Might 5, following a number of delays as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
Justice Gillian Roberts gave the jury its directions on Tuesday. Deliberations lasted greater than 40 hours earlier than the jury returned with a call on Sunday.
Sentencing
A conviction for sexual assault carries a most jail sentence of 14 years; there isn’t a minimal sentence until a firearm is concerned or the complainant is youthful than 16.
The musician has additionally been charged with a 3rd rely of sexual assault inflicting bodily hurt, info solely publicly launched on Tuesday to make sure the jury wasn’t influenced by the brand new allegations.
Earlier this month, the courtroom heard testimony that Hoggard repeatedly raped a younger lady and a teenage fan in Toronto-area resort rooms in separate incidents within the fall of 2016.
Each girls testified they cried and mentioned no all through the encounters, which left them bleeding, bruised and sore.
WARNING: This video incorporates graphic content material and should have an effect on those that have skilled sexual violence or know somebody affected by it. An Ottawa-area lady is the second accuser to testify about alleged sexual abuse endured by the hands of Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard.
In her closing arguments, Crown legal professional Jill Witkin famous Hoggard testified he was assured each complainants consented to their sexual encounters, however he could not say how they expressed that consent and had no detailed recollections of what occurred.
The Ottawa lady informed the courtroom she agreed to fulfill Hoggard in Toronto to have intercourse on Nov. 22, 2016. However as a substitute of getting consensual intercourse, she was raped anally, vaginally and orally, and at one level dragged by the legs into the toilet, she informed the courtroom.
Each complainants testified Hoggard spit of their mouths, slapped them and referred to as them derogatory names. The Ottawa lady testified Hoggard choked her so exhausting she feared for her life.
In his testimony, the musician informed the courtroom that he had consensual, “passionate” intercourse with every of the complainants.
He acknowledged a few of the acts the ladies described — together with spitting, slapping and calling them profane names — could have occurred as a result of they had been a part of his sexual repertoire.
Since he was first charged with sexual assault in 2018, Hoggard’s music profession has imploded, and Hedley is now not collectively. He mentioned that he’s now working as a carpenter and is married with a younger son.
Help is accessible for anybody who has been sexually assaulted. You may entry disaster strains and native help companies by this Government of Canada website or the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. If you happen to’re in rapid hazard or worry in your security or that of others round you, please name 911.
