Defence wraps cross-examination of Virtanen accuser as B.C. trial continues

VANCOUVER — Former Vancouver Canuck Jake Virtanen has taken the stand in British Columbia Supreme Court to deny that he sexually assaulted a woman nearly five years ago.

Virtanen told the jury trial that the woman, who has testified she repeatedly told him "no" before the alleged assault, had been an "enthusiastic participant."

Questioned Thursday by one of his defence lawyers, Colleen Elden, Virtanen disputed the woman's testimony and denied that he used his body weight to pin her down on the bed in his Vancouver hotel room in September 2017.

Virtanen appeared to take time to compose himself and briefly put his head in his hands before describing the moment he first heard about the allegation.

He said through tears that he was in "utter disbelief" when his agent told him in April 2021 that a woman was going to publicly accuse him of sexual misconduct.

Virtanen, who is now 25, was charged with one count of sexual assault in January following an investigation by Vancouver police.

His testimony is set to continue Friday.

The Crown has finished calling evidence in the trial.

Virtanen told the court he met the woman when he was 20 years old and she was 18 at the Calgary Stampede in 2017, and they stayed in touch over Instagram and text messages throughout that summer when they both returned to B.C.

They exchanged "flirtatious messages" and small talk, and discussed getting together when she came to Vancouver, he said.

Elden asked Virtanen if he thought they would have sex before he took her to his hotel room after picking her up from a friend's house where she was staying.

"I wasn't sure, but that would be up to her," he said.

"It would have been her choice."

The woman, whose name is protected by a publication ban,