Former Canadian Vice Admiral Cleared of Sexual Assault on Ship in 1991 [Video]

A former senior official in the Canadian military, Vice Admiral Haydn Edmundson, was acquitted Monday in a sexual assault case dating back over three decades.

Edmundson, who once served as head of military personnel, faced allegations in 2021 of sexually assaulting and committing an indecent act on a lower-ranking member of the Navy during a 1991 deployment.

The case began in February. During the trial, the complainant, Stephanie Viau, testified that she was 19 at the time of the incident and held the lowest rank in the Navy, while Edmundson was her superior.

According to Viau, the assault occurred during her duties, which included waking officers for overnight shifts. Edmundson, who pleaded not guilty, testified that he had no sexual contact with Viau.

Judge Matthew Webber, who presided over the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, …