Content warning: This story includes allegations of sexual assault.
LONDON, Ont. — The detective who conducted the first investigation of the alleged sexual assault involving five former NHLers in 2018 did not have knowledge of a group chat in which players discussed the event, court heard on Wednesday.
Det. Stephen Newton, who is now retired, opened the investigation shortly after “E.M.,” as the complainant is known because of a publication ban on her name, came forward to London police at the end of June 2018.
The group chat, which included players who were in Room 209 at the Delta Armouries in the early hours of June 19, 2018, was cited as evidence earlier in the trial, including a text from Michael McLeod inviting…