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| 12 Wing Shearwater, Halifax Regional District, Nova Scotia |
The British sailors were arrested Thursday and appeared in Dartmouth provincial court Friday. They are Craig Stoner, 24; Darren Smalley, 35; Simon Radford, 31; and Joshua Finbow, 23.
Each man is charged with sexual assault causing bodily harm and committing a sexual assault with other persons.
The accused are members of the Royal Navy’s hockey team, which is in the Halifax area for a military tournament.
The sexual assault allegedly happened April 10 at a drinking party in the barracks at Shearwater and involved intercourse, sources told The Chronicle Herald.
The alleged victim, a civilian, is a young woman who lives in the Halifax area. Her identity is protected by a publication ban.
The woman went to hospital and was examined by sexual assault nurses, sources said.
The charges were laid Thursday by a member of the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service.
Military police obtained search warrants earlier this week and seized bedding, clothing and electronic devices such as cellphones, laptops and iPads.
“I expect very high-ups in both the Canadian and British navies are going to be watching this case closely,” said a source familiar with the investigation.
The British sailors appeared in court Friday two at a time and were represented by duty lawyer Alex Baranowski. All four were remanded to the Dartmouth jail until Monday while lawyers negotiate bail terms.
Outside court, prosecutor Scott Morrison said the Crown will consent to their release if they post large cash deposits, surrender their passports and agree to remain in Canada.
According to court documents, the men all live in the United Kingdom. Stoner is from Stonehouse while Smalley is from Gosport, Radford is from Lower Gosport and Finbow is from Broughton Stockbridge.
Morrison would not comment on the complainant’s injuries or her condition.
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