Verdict expected in sexual assault trial of former army personnel chief

OTTAWA – An Ottawa judge is expected to deliver a verdict this morning in the sexual assault trial of former Vice Admiral Haydn Edmundson.

In 2021, he was commander-in-chief of military personnel when he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman aboard a naval ship in 1991.

During the two-week trial in February, the plaintiff testified that at the time of the alleged assault she was 19 years old and the lowest rank in the Navy, while Edmundson was an officer.

She stated in court that she had not told anyone about the incident and only spoke out years later.

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

The case was part of a series of high-profile allegations against senior military leaders in 2021 that led to an independent review calling for sweeping changes to the culture of the armed forces.

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

The Canadian Press