Hoggard takes the stand in the sexual assault trial and denies raping the plaintiff

WARNING: This article may affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone who has.

Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard denies raping the woman accusing him of sexual assault or sexually touching her without her consent.

Hoggard took the stand Tuesday morning in the northeastern Ontario town of Temiskaming Shores, where he pleaded not guilty in a criminal case that began last week.

Wearing a dark suit, Hoggard told jurors that he and the complainant in the case had sex in nearby Kirkland Lake, Ont., after his then-band Hedley played a show eight years ago.

“Did you rape? [her]?” asked defense attorney Megan Savard.

“No,” he said.

“Did you touch her in any sexual way without her consent?” she continued.

“No,” he said.

After getting these answers at the start of Hoggard’s statement, Savard began walking him through the day’s events, including preparation for the concert and a bonfire after-party the band was hosting right outside their hotel.

This included showing the court an itinerary for the day and Hoggard marking the location of the fire he allegedly caused on a printed aerial photograph of the hotel.

Plaintiff’s statement

During four days of emotional testimony last week, the complainant told jurors that she was at the bonfire party until sunrise and that Hoggard took her to his hotel room afterward.

The woman, then 19, accused Hoggard of vaginally raping, choking, slapping and urinating on her after they entered the hotel room.

Under cross-examination, she denied Savard’s suggestions that she had exaggerated or changed parts of her story. She strenuously denied wanting to have a one-night stand with Hoggard. She rejected the suggestion that they flirt.

VIEW | Plaintiff in Hoggard trial collapses under cross-examination:

Plaintiff breaks down under cross-examination in Hoggard sexual assault trial

The defense continued its aggressive cross-examination of the woman who accused musician Jacob Hoggard of rape. The complainant broke down when Hoggard’s lawyer questioned her recollection of the events and claimed the encounter was consensual.

Savard said in an opening statement earlier Tuesday that she expected Hoggard to tell the jury that there was no doubt in his mind that the encounter was consensual and that he and the woman had flirted, kissed and held hands earlier at the party .

She also told jurors that she would later call two crew members who were at the Hedley concert that night to testify at the trial. The two contradict elements of the complainant’s account of the events leading up to the alleged attack, Savard said.

Hoggard, who told the court he started working as a carpenter after splitting from Hedley in 2018 and now lives “hand to mouth”, was expected to continue his testimony throughout the day.

For anyone who has been sexually abused, there is support through crisis hotlines and local support services through the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. ​​If you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.