Disturbing details emerge as Jake Virtanen takes the stand in trial

Former Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen took the stand today in the third day of his sexual assault trial, where he is being accused of a 2017 sexual assault on an 18 year old woman.

Virtanen has plead not guilty in the case and maintains that the sexual relations between him and his accuser were entirely consensual.

The unnamed now 23 year old woman filed a lawsuit against Virtanen in BC Supreme Court that alleges he forced himself on her in a Vancouver hotel room without her consent. Earlier this week the woman took the stand to testify her version of events and stated that she told Virtanen "No, I don’t want to do this, I don’t want to do this," and pushed him away from her but he ignored her and instead he forced himself on her. Virtanen's defence lawyer questioned why she didn't simply “invent an excuse,” such as having a yeast infection or menstruation, to avoid a sexual interaction with Virtanen. To which she replied, “I thought saying, ‘No' and physically pushing him off of me was enough. What else did I have to say?” Virtanen's lawyer began today's proceedings by apologizing for this line of questioning, calling it "insensitive."

Today Virtanen himself took the stand and stated that the events did not play out as the plaintiff describes them and that the sexual acts between them were consensual. 

Global News' Kamir Karamali with more from Virtanen's testimony:

Needless to say, there's a lot of dirty laundry being aired out for the public to see in this trial. A ruling is expected tomorrow afternoon after both sides have had their chance to state their case to the jury.

Virtanen, who hasn't played since the 2020-21 season, played last season in the KHL with Moscow Spartak. After being selected 6th overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft ahead of players like David Pastrnak, William Nylander, Dylan Larkin and Nikolaj Ehlers, Virtanen is often described as one of the biggest 'draft busts' of the past decade.