The 12-year-old hockey player involved in the charges against GSPS Const. Melisa Rancourt will testify at her trial, assistant Crown attorney David Kirk told an Espanola court Aug. 6.
Rancourt is set to go to trial Sept. 17 and 18 for charges of uttering threats and causing a disturbance. The assault charge Rancourt was facing was dropped July 15.
These charges are connected to an incident at the Espanola Recreation Centre. Rancourt, a GSPS officer, was also charged during the pandemic for causing a disturbance over her refusal to show proof of vaccination at the centre.
In a Feb. 11 press release, the Manitoulin Ontario Provincial Police said an investigation began just before 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 11 after it was reported an adult coach had assaulted a 12-year-old hockey player.
“It was reported that after an earlier hockey game on that same day, a coach had threatened and assaulted a 12-year-old player from an opposing team,” OPP said. “No injuries were reported.”
The youth will testify remotely at Rancourt’s trial, which was confirmed at the Aug. 6 hearing.
Kirk told Justice Dana Peterson, who will be presiding, that he anticipates two to four Crown witnesses.