What goes into preparing a complainant for cross-examination [Video]

As defence lawyers have been grilling the complainant in the sexual assault trial for five former world junior hockey players, they’ve commented several times that she had clearly been well prepared for the proceedings in London, Ont.

It’s alleged E.M., the name used in court as her identity is protected by a standard  publication ban, was sexually assaulted in June 2018 in a hotel in the southwestern Ontario city. Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, Dillon Dubé and Cal Foote — who later went on to careers in the NHL but currently aren’t in the league — have all pleaded not guilty.

On May 5, David Humphrey, McLeod’s lawyer, started cross-examining E.M.’s past accounts of that night. Two days later, Hart’s lawyer, Megan Savard, began her cross-examination, and Formenton’s lawyer, Daniel Brown, picked up questioning on Thursday afternoon. 

CBC asked legal experts how lawyers prepare witnesses like E.M. for lengthy …