Opening arguments expected in Jacob Hoggard’s sexual assault trial

By The Canadian Press on September 24, 2024.

Opening arguments are expected to get underway today in the sexual assault trial of Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard. Justice Robin Tremblay, left to right, Assistant Crown Attorney Peter Keen, Crown Attorney Lilly Gates, Hoggard's lawyers Kally Ho, Megan Savard and Hoggard are shown in a courtroom sketch in Haileybury, Ont., Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alexandra Newbould

HAILEYBURY, Ont. – Opening arguments are expected to get underway today in the sexual assault trial of Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard.

Hoggard is facing a sexual assault charge for an incident alleged to have happened on June 25, 2016, in Kirkland Lake, Ont.

The former Hedley frontman pleaded not guilty to that charge on Monday.

His trial is taking place in nearby Haileybury, a community within Temiskaming Shores in the northeastern part of the province.

Hoggard had elected in December 2022 to be tried by a jury in the Superior Court of Justice.

The selection of jurors took place on Monday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 24, 2024.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version incorrectly said Hoggard elected at the end of last year to be tried in the Superior Court of Justice by a jury. In fact, he made that choice in December 2022.