Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard is a risk to the general public, the prosecution mentioned Friday on the Hedley frontman’s sentencing listening to for sexually assaulting an Ottawa girl, whereas the defence pointed to a psychiatric report that mentioned he was a low risk to reoffend.
The Crown needs Hoggard behind bars for six to seven years whereas the defence is searching for a three-to-four yr time period.
Crown legal professional Kelly Slate mentioned a psychiatric report accomplished after the trial exhibits Hoggard has not proven any regret and has not taken accountability for his actions.
“Because (Hoggard) isn’t acknowledging any accountability, the Crown’s place is he might put himself on this place once more,” Slate mentioned, “and that he is a risk to the general public.”
The 2016 sexual assault happened in a Toronto resort room. The Ottawa girl advised the listening to final week that what occurred will haunt her for the remainder of her life.
Hoggard had additionally been charged with sexual assault inflicting bodily hurt within the case of a teenage fan, in addition to sexual interference involving that complainant however was discovered not responsible on these offences.
The 38-year-old Hoggard had pleaded not responsible to all expenses.
His lawyer, Megan Savard, mentioned the psychiatric evaluation carried out by Dr. Hy Bloom, a forensic psychiatrist, concluded Hoggard had a low risk to reoffend, was not a sexual deviant and never a psychopath.
Court heard that Bloom discovered that Hoggard’s superstar performed a giant function in his pursuit of sexual conquests — that the musician had intercourse with about 200 individuals in his life and “60 to 70 per cent could be followers of Hedley.”
The band fell aside after the allegations towards Hoggard surfaced in 2018.
Lead singer of Hedley, Jacob Hoggard, performs in Toronto on October 2, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Hannah Yoon
“What Dr. Bloom discovered is that that is a man who’s able to private development,” Savard mentioned.
“It does contextualize his behaviour, as a substitute of a massive query mark of is that this a serial sexual predator and we’ve got constructive proof that isn’t the case.”
But the Crown mentioned Bloom’s report ought to be given little weight in sentencing. Slate pointed to Bloom’s personal admission within the report on its limitations — primarily that he relied on interviews with Hoggard, his spouse, household and associates and no interviews with the sufferer or any of the musician’s earlier girlfriends and sexual companions.
Slate mentioned the sentence ought to be properly above the traditional three-to-five yr vary for a number of causes, together with the violent nature of the sexual assault.
“On quite a few events Mr. Hoggard overpowered and held (her) down towards her will and that repeated violence for sexual gratification lasted over a interval of hours,” mentioned Crown legal professional Jill Witkin.
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard arrives at courtroom for his sentencing listening to in Toronto on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alex Lupul
Court beforehand heard Hoggard met the girl by Tinder and two weeks later organized for her to journey to Toronto to meet for intercourse in a resort room.
But as soon as contained in the room, the girl advised courtroom, Hoggard “grew to become a fully completely different individual” and a “full psychopath.”
The girl testified Hoggard raped her repeatedly, choked her, referred to as her a “soiled little pig” whereas he made animal noises and dragged her to the toilet the place he threatened to urinate on her.
She mentioned she thought she was going to die whereas being choked.
Hoggard later advised Bloom he maintained his innocence after the jury’s verdict got here down, saying the encounter was consensual. The girl testified the complete incident from begin to end was not consensual.
“The Crown’s place is the dearth of regret and never taking accountability for his actions limits his potential for rehabilitation,” Slate mentioned.
Hoggard may also be given a possibility to deal with the courtroom, although he’s not obligated to accomplish that.
The sentence is anticipated to be delivered on Oct. 20.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Oct. 14, 2022.