It is expected that the Ottawa judge will issue his ruling this morning, Wednesday, in the sexual assault trial of former Rear Admiral Hayden Edmondson.

Edmondson was the chief of military personnel in 2021 when he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman aboard a Navy ship in 1991.

During the two-week trial in February, the plaintiff testified that she was 19 years old at the time of the alleged assault and was the lowest-ranking member of the Navy, while Edmondson was an officer.

She told the court that she did not tell anyone what happened and did not come forward until years later.

Edmondson pleaded not guilty, and during his testimony, he denied having any sexual contact with the woman.

The case was part of a series of high-profile accusations leveled against senior military leaders in 2021, leading to an independent review that called for sweeping changes in the culture of the armed forces.