London, Ont. police to review probe of alleged sex assault at 2018 Hockey Canada gala
Global News
London, Ont., police have ordered a review 'to determine what, if any, additional investigative avenues may exist' in the alleged Hockey Canada sexual assault from 2018.
An internal review has been ordered into the London Police Service’s initial investigation of an alleged sexual assault at a 2018 Hockey Canada gala that has embroiled the national sport body in controversy.
Chief Steve Williams said in a statement Wednesday that he ordered the review “to determine what, if any, additional investigative avenues may exist” in the case, which resulted in no criminal charges at the time.
Williams said the review will begin immediately, adding “no predetermined timeline” is set for when it will conclude.
Hockey Canada has been under intense scrutiny since news broke in May that it quietly settled a lawsuit filed by a woman who alleges she was assaulted while intoxicated by eight unnamed players, including members of the country’s 2018 world junior team, following a gala event in London, Ont., four years ago.
The organization’s leadership testified to the House of Commons heritage committee last month that both an independent investigation by law firm Henein Hutchison LLP and a London police probe were initiated within hours of the alleged incident.
However, outgoing CEO Tom Renney and his replacement, then-COO Scott Smith, told parliamentarians that because the woman who made the allegations did not wish to speak to investigators or police at the time, the names of the players alleged to be involved were never revealed and those players were not disciplined or charged.
The woman later settled a $3.5-million lawsuit filed against Hockey Canada and the eight unnamed players for an undisclosed sum.
In his statement, Williams confirmed a “lengthy and detailed” sexual assault investigation began in June 2018 — the same month the incident was alleged to have taken place — and concluded in February 2019.