WARNING: This article may affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone affected by it
Musician Jacob Hoggard has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago.
Jurors in Haileybury, Ont., a community within Temiskaming Shores, deliberated for less than six hours on Friday before delivering their unanimous verdict.
The B.C. native and former Hedley frontman had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.
Consent was the central issue in the trial as both the Crown and defence agreed Hoggard had a sexual encounter with the complainant in his hotel room in Kirkland Lake, Ont., in June 2016.
Prosecutors alleged Hoggard raped, choked, hit and urinated on the then-19-year-old woman, whom he met at a bonfire after-party following the band’s concert.
The defence argued Hoggard had a consensual one-night stand with the complainant after the two flirted and kissed at the bonfire.
