Warning: This story contains graphic details and allegations of sexual assault
An Ontario judge has ruled there is no basis to find that a former member of Canada’s world junior hockey team was being untruthful about his lack of memory while testifying at the sexual assault trial of five of his ex-teammates.
Prosecutors sought to cross-examine their own witness, Brett Howden, on more than a dozen parts of his testimony they said were inconsistent with his previous statements, arguing the player was feigning memory loss on details that could be damaging to his friends.
Howden, they argued, has no issue remembering the complainant being flirtatious or instigating sexual activity, for example, but doesn’t remember hearing her…