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Ontario Judge Rules Texts in Assault Case Inadmissible

5/24/2025

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Summary

Story summary

An Ontario judge has deemed Brett Howden's text messages about an alleged sexual assault involving his former teammates inadmissible in court. The messages, sent to Taylor Raddysh, detail an incident with Dillon Dube. The trial, linked to a June 2018 event in London, Ontario, sees all five players maintaining their not guilty pleas.

History

Historical Context

An Ontario judge ruled Brett Howden's text messages about an alleged 2018 sexual assault inadmissible in court, echoing historical legal debates on evidence admissibility. Landmark cases like *Brown v. Mississippi* (1936) established that coerced confessions are inadmissible, shaping modern standards for evidence and due process rights, which remain critical in ensuring fair trials today.

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Story summary

An Ontario judge has deemed Brett Howden's text messages about an alleged sexual assault involving his former teammates inadmissible in court. The messages, sent to Taylor Raddysh, detail an incident with Dillon Dube. The trial, linked to a June 2018 event in London, Ontario, sees all five players maintaining their not guilty pleas.

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