The former head of human resources for the military, retired vice admiral Haydn Edmundson, is scheduled to testify today in an Ottawa courtroom on his sexual assault trial. He is accused of assaulting a woman over thirty years ago.
In the Ontario Court of Justice, Edmundson is being tried by a single judge. His trial started last Monday. In December 2021, he was charged with one crime of indecent acts and one count of sexual assault.
He has entered a not guilty plea and refuted any misconduct. Since then, Edmundson has retired from the Canadian Armed Forces and stepped down as head of military personnel command.
As per the court’s hearing, the alleged attack happened on a ship when it was parked at a U.S. navy base.
November of 1991. Edmundson was the ship’s navigator and lieutenant commander at the time of the claimed attack.
The woman who says Edmundson abused her gave explicit allegations to the court last week. Under cross-examination, the woman—whose identity is shielded by a publication ban—was questioned about the veracity of her evidence by Brian Greenspan, Edmundson’s attorney.
Demands Edmundson revealed his identity
The woman testified in court that part of her responsibilities on board the ship was rousing officers, Edmundson among them, for their night duty. She stated in her testimony that when she went to wake Edmundson on a specific assignment, sections of his body would be visible.
