Former Vice Admiral Haydn Edmundson of the Canadian military was found not guilty on Monday of a sexual assault charge stemming from over 30 years ago. Edmundson, who previously led military personnel, faced accusations related to an incident involving a subordinate during a deployment in 1991.
The trial began in February, with the complainant, Stephanie Viau, sharing her experience of being 19 and the lowest ranking in the Navy at the time, while Edmundson held a superior position. Viau claimed that the alleged assault occurred when she was on duty, specifically when waking officers for their shifts. Edmundson maintained his innocence throughout, asserting that he never had any sexual contact with Viau.
Judge Matthew Webber, overseeing the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, concluded that the prosecution had not met the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. He pointed out significant inconsistencies in Viau’s memory over the decades and noted the absence of supportive evidence. “There are just too many problems,” he stated, emphasizing his role was to judge guilt, not the events themselves.
Following the verdict, Edmundson’s attorney, Brian Greenspan, described the decision as a “clear, decisive vindication” of his client. Meanwhile, Viau expressed her emotional response outside the courthouse, having previously expressed distrust in the military justice system for investigating her claims.
Conflicts during the trial included differing accounts of how regularly Viau would wake Edmundson. She described instances of his inappropriate behavior, including sleeping naked, which ultimately led to the charge of an indecent act. Viau recounted an incident where she discovered him exposed, prompting her to react strongly, calling attention to the situation.
Edmundson, who resigned and officially retired from the Armed Forces in 2022 amid the allegations, is part of a broader investigation into sexual misconduct within the military ranks. Reports indicate that several high-ranking officials continue to face scrutiny, with two already charged criminally in connection with various allegations. This issue gained public attention only after journalistic inquiries into the Department of National Defence.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.