Jake Virtanen sex assault trial set to begin Monday

(CityNews Image)

By Hana Mae Nassar

Posted July 18, 2022 5:28 am.

Last Updated July 18, 2022 3:53 pm.

The trial for former Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen gets underway at B.C. Supreme Court Monday.

Virtanen is charged with one count of sexual assault in connection with a September 2017 incident.

His case will be tried by a judge and jury.

In May 2021, Vancouver police confirmed they were looking into sexual misconduct allegations against the hockey player after claims surfaced on social media. In posts, a woman claimed Virtanen sexually assaulted her in a Metro Vancouver hotel when she was 18, despite her pleading for him to stop.

The VPD said earlier this year that its investigation has concluded.

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Shortly after accusations emerged, the Canucks placed Virtanen on leave as an independent investigation was conducted. Virtanen last played for Spartak Moscow in the Russian-based KHL.

A civil suit was filed in Kelowna against him that same month, to which he responded on June 1 claiming what happened between him and the woman was consensual.

In his response, Virtanen denied the woman “expressed any indication, verbal or physical, that she did not want to engage in physical activity.” He asked for the lawsuit to be dismissed and for the court to award him special costs, due to the nature of the allegations.

-With files from Martin MacMahon

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