Verdict delayed in sexual assault trial for former head of military HR

OTTAWA — The verdict in the sexual assault trial for former vice-admiral Haydn Edmundson has been delayed until Sept. 16 after the judge said he needed more time to finish his decision.

Justice Matthew Webber was set to deliver a verdict in the case on Wednesday. Instead, he sombrely told the courtroom his decision wasn’t ready yet.

“There’s a lot of moving parts,” Webber said, adding that he knows the lack of a decision is probably looming over Edmundson.

Edmundson looked back at his family and shook his head.

The two-week trial was held in February with closing arguments in April, and the verdict has been delayed twice.

Edmundson was the head of military personnel in 2021 when he was accused of raping a woman on board a navy ship in 1991.

His lawyer, Brian Greenspan, said Webber has a lot going on and that he shouldn’t be criticized for the verdict’s delay.

“Certainly this is a very hard-working and very experienced judge who has been trying to put this together,” he said as court recessed.

“I would be wrong to criticize him.”

At trial, the complainant testified that she was 19 years old at the time of the alleged assault, and in the navy’s lowest rank. Edmundson was an officer and several years older than her.

Stephanie Viau’s identity was protected by a publication ban during the trial but that has since been lifted.

Edmundson pleaded not guilty, and during his own testimony he denied having any sexual contact with the woman.

The case was among a series of high-profile accusations made against senior military leaders in 2021.

Edmundson stepped down from his position as head of military personnel when the accusation against him was made public in 2021. The charges were laid months later, in December 2021.

Edmundson testified that in February 2022, he was directed by the chief of the defence staff to retire from the Armed Forces.

The crisis stemming from the series of accusations led to an external review by former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour in May 2022, whose report called for sweeping changes to reform the toxic culture of the Armed Forces.

Edmundson left the courtroom with his supporters and family members shortly after the recess, and is set to be back in mid-September to hear his fate.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 28, 2024.

The Canadian Press