TORONTO – Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard is expected to return to the podium today on trial for sexual assault.
The Hedley leader has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault causing bodily harm and one of sexual interference, a charge relating to the sexual touch of a person under the age of 16.
Prosecutors allege that he violently and repeatedly raped two women, one of whom was 16 at the time, in two separate incidents in the fall of 2016.
Complainants stated that they cried and said no during the meetings, which took place in hotel rooms in the Toronto area.
Hoggard began his testimony on Tuesday, saying the two meetings were consensual and passionate.
He said he relied on verbal and nonverbal cues to measure consent with each of the complainants.