How a judge-alone trial may impact the Hockey Canada sexual assault case [Video]

Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia’s decision to discharge the jurors in the case against five former world junior hockey players charged with sexually assaulting a woman in a London, Ont., hotel room in 2018 has raised legal questions about the future of the trial. 

On Friday, Carroccia told a packed courtroom that the trial, which began on April 25 with jury selection, would proceed with just a judge hearing the case, meaning she alone will determine the legal fate of the defendants. Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart and Michael McLeod — who all had NHL careers but are no longer in the league — have pleaded not guilty. 

The sudden change to a judge-alone trial came after a juror sent a note to the judge. It outlined concerns that two of the defence lawyers appeared to be whispering to each other and laughing at some of the …