Former Tigers rape case: Opened immediately, suspended immediately

The trial of two former Victoriaville Tigers players accused of sexual assault opened Tuesday morning in Quebec, but it has already been suspended at the request of the defense. Certain elements or evidence.

The much-anticipated trial of Nicholas Daigle and Massimo Siciliano did not open as expected Tuesday morning.

From the outset, defense attorneys asked Judge Thomas Jacques for a nearly two-hour recess to discuss with their clients and the state.

It said the suspension would eventually extend until at least Wednesday afternoon, working on combinations that would have the effect of significantly shortening the 11-day scheduled trial.

“We believe in a trial that will be conducted entirely by enrollment,” says M^e Michel Lebrun, attorney for Nicolas Daigle.

The cell phone was admitted as evidence

These additions have the effect of avoiding the filing of certain elements or certain pieces of evidence.

Recall that the defense filed a motion to exclude evidence related to the contents of the cell phones of the two accused. The latter held that the seizure and subpoena were unconstitutional, but Judge Thomas Jack decided otherwise.

Some of the content on these phones, still under embargo, is highly sensitive. The defense also requested that these elements be heard on camera during the preliminary motion to prevent the media from learning about them.

Anticipated Inquiry

The trial of Daigle and Siciliano represents a major milestone in the sex scandals that have rocked the hockey world in recent years.

An English-speaking journalist from TSN attended the opening of the hearing on Tuesday, a source of excitement beyond Quebec in a case that will put the toxic culture surrounding hockey in the dock.

Rick Westhead draws attention to sex scandals surrounding Hockey Canada, including an out-of-court settlement the organization reached in 2018 with a woman who was allegedly sexually assaulted by several of Canada’s junior players.

Remembering facts

On the sidelines of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s (QMJHL) Presidents Cup series, two hockey players allegedly sexually assaulted a young employee of the hotel where their team was staying. The events reportedly took place on the night of June 5 to 6, 2021, while the Tigers players and management celebrated their victory in the final.

Photo courtesy of Jonathan Roy / LHJMQ

The complainant, who was 17 at the time of the incident, had exchanged text messages with Nicholas Tagle in the days leading up to the attack. On the night of June 6, he agreed to join the athlete in his room, although he indicated that he wanted to be alone, explained an investigator on the file during the hearing of preliminary requests to prepare for the trial.

Hugo Audet (15) of the Rimparts de Quebec and Massimo Siciliano (13) of the Victoriaville Tigers during first round action at the Videotron Center on Saturday, October 3, 2020.

Photo by Didier Debusschere

When she got to her room, she found Daigle and Massimo Siciliano, who then had a three-way sex, to which she did not consent. A video of the act was allegedly captured and shown to some people.

Both hockey players were arrested by Sûreté du Québec police officers in the following days. They both face charges of sexual assault and recording. Daigle’s file also included charges of making a recording accessible and publishing an intimate image without consent.