Crown questions detective who led 1st investigation that ended with no charges against ex-world junior players

Uncovering the Role of Crown Witnesses in Trials

As a senior reporter for CBC, I have been closely following a trial at the London courthouse alongside my colleagues. Recently, I had a fascinating discussion with Brandon Trask, an associate professor at the University of Manitoba’s faculty of law, who is delving into the intricacies of Crown policies and prosecutions for an upcoming book.

Trask raised an intriguing point about the testimony of retired London police sergeant Stephen Newton, the lead investigator in the case under scrutiny. Newton’s involvement in the trial, despite having closed the original case, has sparked curiosity among legal experts.

According to Trask, Newton’s testimony holds significance as it allows the Crown to present recorded interviews conducted with some of the defendants back in November 2018. During these interviews, Newton personally engaged with Michael McLeod and Alex Formenton, while speaking to Cal Foote and Dillon Dube over the phone.

Yesterday, the court witnessed McLeod’s interview, hinting at the possibility of Formenton’s interview being presented as well. These recordings could potentially serve as the only insight into the defendants’ perspectives, as they are not obligated to take the stand.

Notably, Newton expressed his initial reluctance to press charges for sexual assault or arrest McLeod during the interviews. This stance has led some experts, including Trask, to question the overall impact of these witness testimonies on the Crown’s case.

“There’s certainly a perception, at least at this stage, that some of these witnesses have been arguably more harmful to the Crown’s case than helpful,” Trask remarked.