Hedley Frontman Jacob Hoggard's Sexual Assault Trial to Begin in May

The trial was previously postponed multiple times due to COVID-19 restrictions

Photo: police handout

BY Calum SlingerlandPublished Jan 20, 2022

Nearly a year on from being pushed to 2022, the sexual assault trial against Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard has now been given a start date.

Following postponements due to COVID-19 restrictions, the jury trial is presently scheduled to start May 2, and continue until early June, the Canadian Press reports.

Last January, the trial was moved to April at Hoggard's request after changing counsel, only to be moved again to January 3, 2022. The Canadian Press notes that the latest delay comes due to new jury trials being put on hold due to the latest surge in COVID-19 case counts.

The case had initially been scheduled to start in 2019 but was held over until 2021.

Hoggard was first arrested in 2018 after multiple claims of sexual misconduct were levelled against him, including two counts of sexual assault causing bodily harm and one count of sexual interference. 

Three separate incidents allegedly occurred in the Toronto area in 2016, involving a woman and a girl under the age of 16. The names of the alleged victims are protected under a publication ban.

At his preliminary hearing in 2019, Hoggard pleaded not guilty to all charges. Hedley announced an indefinite hiatus in 2018.

Latest Coverage