World junior defence has embarrassment of riches, judge hears at closing [Video]

A defence lawyer for one of five members of Canada’s world junior hockey team says they have an “embarrassment of riches” in countering the accusations against them.

David Humphrey, lawyer for Michael McLeod, told Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia Monday the complainant, known as E.M. in court documents, created a “false narrative” in the face of regret after meeting McLeod and his teammates in London, Ont., in June 2018.

“This is a case where the defence has an embarrassment of riches — a cornucopia of compelling credibility and reliability concerns in E.M.’s testimony,” Humphrey told Carroccia during his closing submissions inside a London courtroom.

“She’s created a false narrative in which she bears no responsibility.”

Closing submissions began Monday after the defence rested its case last week. The trial, which has been proceeding by judge alone after two juries were dismissed, began in late April.

McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote have pleaded not guilty to sexual assault stemming from …