Judge to release decision in sexual assault trial of former military leader Edmundson

By Sarah Ritchie and Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press on September 16, 2024.

OTTAWA – The judge overseeing the sexual assault trial of former vice-admiral Haydn Edmundson is reading his decision in an Ottawa court this morning.

Edmundson was the head of the military’s personnel in 2021 when he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman while they were deployed together back in 1991.

The trial was held in February, but the verdict has been delayed twice.

The complainant, Stephanie Viau, testified at trial that she was in the navy’s lowest rank at the time of the alleged assault and Edmundson was an officer.

Edmundson pleaded not guilty, and testified that he never had sexual contact with Viau.

He was one of several high-ranking military leaders accused of sexual misconduct in 2021, a scandal that led to an external report calling for sweeping changes to reform the culture of the Armed Forces.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2024

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