Former military leader not guilty of sexual assault

Former vice-admiral Haydn Edmundson has been found not guilty of sexual assault and committing an indecent act, concluding a trial that began in February.

- SARAH RITCHIE AND ALESSIA PASSAFIUME

Former vice-admiral Haydn Edmundson has been found not guilty of sexual assault and committing an indecent act, concluding a trial that began in February.

Edmundson was head of the military's personnel in 2021 when he was accused of assaulting another member of the navy during a 1991 deployment.

The complainant, Stephanie Viau, testified during the trial that she was 19 years old and in the navy's lowest rank at the time of the alleged assault, while Edmundson was an older officer.

Edmundson pleaded not guilty and testified that he never had sexual contact with Viau.

In court on Monday, a small group of his supporters gasped when the verdict was read, and Edmundson shook his lawyer's hand.

Outside court, lawyer Brian Greenspan said his client was gratified by the "clear, decisive vindication of his steadfast position that he was not guilty of these false accusations." Justice Matthew Webber read his entire decision to the court Monday, concluding that the Crown did not meet the standard of proving its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

He cited concerns with the complainant's memory of what happened more than 30 years ago, and a lack of evidence to corroborate her account.