The process of sexual assault against Canadian musician Jacob Hogard began after numerous delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hogard is in the courtroom in downtown Toronto on Monday, where a judge says several procedural issues will be considered before the jury is selected.
The frontman of the Canadian rock band Hadley pleaded not guilty to sexual assault, causing bodily harm and sexual interference during a two-day preliminary hearing in the summer of 2019.
He chose to be tried by jurors, not just a judge, and was originally scheduled to stand trial in January 2021.
But public health measures designed to limit the spread of COVID-19 prompted courts to postpone new trials for months during the pandemic, and the trial was postponed several times.
It is now scheduled to run until early June.
The alleged incidents occurred in 2016
Hogard was arrested and charged in 2018 with alleged incidents involving a woman and a teenager, which police said occurred in the Toronto area in 2016. The complainants could not be identified due to a ban on publication.
Police launched an investigation into the case after allegations surfaced that Hogard had had inappropriate meetings with young fans.
The singer released a statement long before his arrest, in which he denied having sexual behavior without consent. But he admitted that he behaved in a way that “objectifies women” and was “reckless and disregarding their feelings.”
Hadley was left by his management team and several radio stations after the allegations surfaced, and the group was on an indefinite break from 2018.
Add Comment