OSIC ruling: Nikolaj Soerensen suspended for a minimum of 6 years

[fan]

Well hopefully they can repair their relationship ultimately when things calm down.

Unless there’s a reason why she feels like it is important for her mental health to not speak to him.

 

[overedge]

Some of the evidence was apparently pictures from that party left on his instagram for 12 years and only deleted around the time the investigation was announced. They also had medical records from the time of the assault. So it seems there was a lot of good evidence in this case.

Deleting Instgram photos = not suspicious at all

 

[Alilou]

Definition of sexual maltreatment: Sexual abuse is sexual behavior or a sexual act forced upon a woman, man or child without their consent. Sexual abuse includes abuse of a woman, man or child by a man, woman or child. Sexual abuse is an act of violence which the attacker uses against someone they perceive as weaker than them.

Some people are nitpicking .

In Canada rape is not in our criminal code and has been replaced with sexual assault. Having said that obviously there are different crimes that fall under sexual assault too.

Believe me I am not nitpicking. Rape may not be in Canada's criminal code, or the US's, but it should be. When I was 14 I was assaulted. I was lucky enough to get away before I was raped, so trust me, I know the difference.

This softening of the language is insulting and dismissive of survivors.

 

[Karen-W]

Believe me I am not nitpicking. Rape may not be in Canada's criminal code, or the US's, but it should be. When I was 14 I was assaulted. I was lucky enough to get away before I was raped, so trust me, I know the difference.

This softening of the language is insulting and dismissive of survivors.

I guess if you believe "softening the language" is more important than encompassing ALL sorts of sexual assault under the same level of punishment within the criminal system. Rape has a very specific definition but there are plenty of other types of sexual assault that are just as horrific and awful and using a more broad term gives prosecutors greater ability to go after ALL sexual predators.

 

[Alilou]

I guess if you believe "softening the language" is more important than encompassing ALL sorts of sexual assault under the same level of punishment within the criminal system. Rape has a very specific definition but there are plenty of other types of sexual assault that are just as horrific and awful and using a more broad term gives prosecutors greater ability to go after ALL sexual predators.

Well, yes, I concede your point, but maybe it could include both.

 

[Judy]

Believe me I am not nitpicking. Rape may not be in Canada's criminal code, or the US's, but it should be. When I was 14 I was assaulted. I was lucky enough to get away before I was raped, so trust me, I know the difference.

This softening of the language is insulting and dismissive of survivors.

I’m really happy that you weren’t raped and you were able to escape.

 

[Aceon6]

I’m sure there are lawyers on FSU who can confirm and cite case law, but the softening of language in North American law is actually meant to BROADEN the offenses that can be prosecuted and result in successful convictions. In the US, for example, the legacy definition of rape (and precedent case law) required that prosecutors prove three things beyond a reasonable doubt to get a conviction. The new language partially resets precedent law, and makes it easier to get convictions.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

I'm definitely not a lawyer, but it's my understanding that advocates for victims and women's groups were behind the changes in terminology in Canada when the Canadian criminal code was amended in the early 80s. One of the purposes was indeed to broaden the types of offences that could be charged (previously the definition of rape in Canada was extremely narrow) but also to emphasize that sexual assaults are crimes of violence.

I’m sure there are lawyers on FSU who can confirm and cite case law, but the softening of language in North American law is actually meant to BROADEN the offenses that can be prosecuted and result in successful convictions. In the US, for example, the legacy definition of rape (and precedent case law) required that prosecutors prove three things beyond a reasonable doubt to get a conviction. The new language partially resets precedent law, and makes it easier to get convictions.

 

[Vagabond]

Rape may not be in Canada's criminal code, or the US's

Generally speaking, in the U.S., there are state crimes and federal crimes. Rape is a crime in every state, and it is also a crime under federal law under certain circumstances, such as when it takes place of federal property, for example, in a national park.

And now back to the topic of the thread.

 

[Alilou]

I’m really happy that you weren’t raped and you were able to escape.

Thank you so much. It was a long time ago now, and I do feel healed. I was very very lucky.

 

[canbelto]

I'm just happy there was actually a substantial penalty given out, instead of a slap on the wrist.

 

[tangerine dream]

I'm just happy there was actually a substantial penalty given out, instead of a slap on the wrist.

I am too. He is only banned from skating/coaching in Canada though, right? I hope if he tries to skate/coach in Europe or elsewhere that this finding would be considered by other countries.

 

[LoisAGOEs]

I am too. He is only banned from skating/coaching in Canada though, right? I hope if he tries to skate/coach in Europe or elsewhere that this finding would be considered by other countries.

Considering the ISU posted a statement on him, I’m confident they wouldn’t clear him to skate for any other country. Coaching might be a little harder to control, but I imagine they would refuse him accreditation. His career is effectively over anyway, considering his injury history and his decline in quality over the last couple of seasons, I assume there wouldn’t be motivation to try and cheat the system and continue competing.

 

[tangerine dream]

Considering the ISU posted a statement on him, I’m confident they wouldn’t clear him to skate for any other country. Coaching might be a little harder to control, but I imagine they would refuse him accreditation. His career is effectively over anyway, considering his injury history and his decline in quality over the last couple of seasons, I assume there wouldn’t be motivation to try and cheat the system and continue competing.

Yeah, it's pretty unlikely he could compete, especially as Canada would have to release him. I wonder if Laurence would consider skating with another partner. Obviously their personal relationship would complicate that, but I imagine there are some Canadian guys who would dump their current partner for Laurence (not that I'm rooting for that to happen).

 

[kwanfan1818]

She just turned 32 and would be 37 in 2030. Cizeron, who will turn 30 later this year, isn't skating competitively now and has supported them since the news broken, publicly by choreographing for them. If he's not already a Canadian citizen, he's at least a permanent resident -- he was able to travel back to Canada during the pandemic in this status, while Papadakis couldn't -- and has met the residency requirement for citizenship. He's also tall enough for her, and she has excellent skating skills. He hasn't skated for France for a while; I don't know what the current FFSG could and would do about a release, especially if he has a Canadian passport, and they could take the current season to train.

If I were Dubreuil and Lauzon, I would be lighting candles at this prospect.

 

[canbelto]

Gabby and Guillaume are also apparently not on good terms anymore. A shame.

 

[Peepsquick]

Gabby and Guillaume are also apparently not on good terms anymore. A shame.

Says who?

 

[Peepsquick]

She just turned 32 and would be 37 in 2030. Cizeron, who will turn 30 later this year, isn't skating competitively now and has supported them since the news broken, publicly by choreographing for them. If he's not already a Canadian citizen, he's at least a permanent resident -- he was able to travel back to Canada during the pandemic in this status, while Papadakis couldn't -- and has met the residency requirement for citizenship. He's also tall enough for her, and she has excellent skating skills. He hasn't skated for France for a while; I don't know what the current FFSG could and would do about a release, especially if he has a Canadian passport, and they could take the current season to train.

If I were Dubreuil and Lauzon, I would be lighting candles at this prospect.

Not in a million years, imo.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

I'm just happy there was actually a substantial penalty given out, instead of a slap on the wrist.

This. I'm also glad that OSIC decided that the case was within their jurisdiction because I was concerned that they would conclude it wasn't.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Not in a million years, imo.

One can only hope.

 

[Karen-W]

Gabby and Guillaume are also apparently not on good terms anymore. A shame.

Says who?

see below - which was posted in this very thread just two days ago... from a reliable French journalist who has very good relationships and connections with pretty much everyone in French skating...

As much as I hate to say it, DL is right. P/C are no longer on speaking terms. Gabriella will probably tour as a solo dancer with Patinair for a few shows like she did in Douai recently (along with Laurine Bourzat-Lecavelier), but it's not yet signed. The reason behind the fallout goes way beyond the sharing the ice with Sørensen thing and way back. It's up to them to publicly explain. Or not.

 

[Peepsquick]

One can only hope.

see below - which was posted in this very thread just two days ago... from a reliable French journalist who has very good relationships and connections with pretty much everyone in French skating...

That makes me extremely sad.

 

[overedge]

If some of the Xitter posts about his controlling behaviour toward her are true, IMO it's highly unlikely that he would support her returning to competition with another partner. Even if that partner was their friend.

And although Guillaume has continued to work with them throughout this situation, I also wonder whether that might change, now that a formal penalty has been given.

 

[Barbara Manatee]

I imagine Laurence probably has bigger concerns than finding a skating partner right now. It's one thing to believe your fiance when he tells you he's innocent. It's another thing entirely after an official investigation determines that he is not.

 

[skategal]

This. I'm also glad that OSIC decided that the case was within their jurisdiction because I was concerned that they would conclude it wasn't.

This was my fear too.

I’m somewhat surprised a giant rug wasn’t found to shove this all under.

 

[leilaofpaper]

It really says something about how sexual assault cases are treated that the biggest emotion in the wake of this is surprise.

 

[kirkbiggestfan]

I would be shocked if IAM did not even try to find Laurence a new partner. She is the elite skater that started their school and they will give her a coaching job or another shot at an olympic spot if she wants to do that. Sometimes, it is the best way to move on: start skating with a tall handsome man: Andrew Poje, Nikolas Wamsteeker, Guillaume, Dmitre Razgulajevs, ...they will do their due dilligence to see if any of these skaters are even a slight possibility. Sign up for a tropical cruise job with Poje would be the best FU move to break up with the rapist.

 

[Aceon6]

None of us know how Lolo feels. She may want to get away or may prefer to stay in Montreal where her friends are. Either way, moving on from a loooong partnership that morphed into a romantic one must be unbearably difficult.

 

[Karen-W]

None of us know how Lolo feels. She may want to get away or may prefer to stay in Montreal where her friends are. Either way, moving on from a loooong partnership that morphed into a romantic one must be unbearably difficult.

That's assuming she wants to move on. I get that a lot of people here believe that is what she SHOULD do, but that may not be what she wants to do. We are not inside that relationship she has with Nik and she could very well be like thousands of other women who stand by their man even when everyone knows he's a sexual predator.

 

[Judy]

I'm definitely not a lawyer, but it's my understanding that advocates for victims and women's groups were behind the changes in terminology in Canada when the Canadian criminal code was amended in the early 80s. One of the purposes was indeed to broaden the types of offences that could be charged (previously the definition of rape in Canada was extremely narrow) but also to emphasize that sexual assaults are crimes of violence.

That is normally what happens .. I believe it was changed back in the early 1980’s. I googled that because I was really young back then.