[ad_1]
Warning: This story incorporates particulars some readers could discover disturbing. Please learn at your individual discretion.
An Ontario choose imposed stricter bail situations on Jacob Hoggard on Monday, a day after the Hedley frontman was discovered responsible of sexual assault inflicting bodily hurt towards an Ottawa girl however not responsible of the identical offence towards a teenage fan.
Ontario Superior Court docket Justice Gillian Roberts acknowledged the “prospect of a prolonged jail time period considerably will increase the motivation to flee,” and cited the necessity to preserve public confidence within the administration of justice.
Nonetheless, she mentioned each the flight danger and the “present robust public curiosity in accountability” might be addressed by way of tighter restrictions reasonably than revoking Hoggard’s bail till he’s sentenced, as prosecutors requested. Sentencing is predicted to happen this summer time.
Beneath the brand new phrases, Hoggard should stay at his Vancouver dwelling or one other preapproved handle and be dwelling between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., besides within the case of household emergencies or authorised commitments.
He should additionally stay in British Columbia, aside from court docket appearances in Toronto, and undergo common check-ins and random compliance checks. The singer can be barred from contacting both of the complainants within the case.
Hoggard’s spouse, who has additionally pledged $200,000 for his bail, is one among two sureties chosen to observe his compliance.
That quantity is “enough to focus Mr. Hoggard’s consideration on the necessity to adjust to the phrases of launch and attend court docket, in any other case he dangers visiting the hardship of dropping this cash on his spouse and, by extension, his son,” Roberts mentioned.
The 37-year-old musician had pleaded not responsible to 2 counts of sexual assault inflicting bodily hurt — one associated to every complainant — and one depend of sexual interference, a cost that refers back to the sexual touching of somebody below 16.
In an announcement issued late Monday afternoon, Hoggard’s lawyer mentioned the singer is “disillusioned” with Sunday’s verdict however “grateful that the jury rightfully acquitted him” on the fees associated to the youthful complainant.
“Whereas the decision will not be what Mr. Hoggard hoped, we thank the jury for its diligence and cautious consideration, and its recognition of the truth that the proof on some counts was too frail and harmful to assist a conviction,” Megan Savard wrote.
Throughout trial, prosecutors alleged Hoggard violently and repeatedly raped the 2 complainants in separate incidents within the fall of 2016. Additionally they alleged he groped the teenager after a Hedley live performance in April 2016, when she was 15.
The 2 girls testified Hoggard slapped them, spit of their mouths and referred to as them derogatory names in the course of the encounters, which occurred in Toronto-area accommodations. Additionally they mentioned he restricted their respiratory at one level. Each complainants testified they have been bleeding, bruised and sore afterwards.
The Crown highlighted the similarities between the complainants’ accounts, noting the 2 girls have by no means met or spoken to one another.
Hoggard took the stand in his personal defence, telling jurors he had consensual, “passionate” intercourse with the complainants. He additionally testified he didn’t contact the teenager sexually till after she turned 16, including he made a degree to know when her sixteenth birthday was.
The musician mentioned a few of the acts described by the complainants, together with slapping and spitting, have been amongst his sexual preferences and will have occurred, although he didn’t keep in mind in the event that they did. He mentioned the slapping was extra of a mild tapping, nonetheless.
Hoggard additionally denied limiting the complainants’ respiratory, saying that was not amongst his sexual preferences.
Whereas the singer acknowledged his reminiscence of the encounters wasn’t detailed, he maintained he knew the complainants have been consenting based mostly on their verbal and non-verbal cues.
The defence argued the complainants made up the rape allegations as a result of they have been upset that Hoggard, a “rock star” who had frequent one-night stands whereas touring, had rejected them.
The case turned on consent, and jurors requested a number of questions associated to that authorized challenge throughout their six days of deliberations. They delivered a verdict Sunday night.
Hoggard was additionally charged in March with sexual assault inflicting bodily hurt in one other incident alleged to have taken place in June 2016 in Kirkland Lake, Ont. Hedley performed the Kirkland Lake Homecoming pageant on June 24, 2016.
The singer has denied the allegation by way of his lawyer and indicated he plans to plead not responsible.
© 2022 The Canadian Press
[ad_2]