Ex-military leader Haydn Edmundson found not guilty in sex assault trial

Former vice-admiral Haydn Edmundson on Monday was found not guilty of sexual assault and committing an indecent act, concluding a trial that began in February. Edmundson was the head of Canada's Armed Forces 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 in the audience 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.” Global’s Mercedes Stephenson explains. For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/10757605/military-sexual-assault-trial-verdict-haydn-edmundson/ Subscribe to Global News Channel HERE: http://bit.ly/20fcXDc Like Global News on Facebook HERE: http://bit.ly/255GMJQ Follow Global News on X HERE: http://bit.ly/1Toz8mt Follow Global News on Instagram HERE: https://bit.ly/2QZaZIB #GlobalNews #HaydnEdmundson #Military