British sailors accused of gang rape start preliminary hearing today

A preliminary hearing has begun today for four British sailors charged with sexually assaulting a young woman at a military base in Halifax.

Simon Radford, Joshua Finbow, Craig Stoner and Darren Smalley are all facing a charge of sexual assault causing bodily harm.

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When they were arrested last April, the men were in Nova Scotia to participate in a hockey tournament with local Armed Forces personnel.

The Crown alleges they participated in a group sexual assault last April 10 in a barracks at CFB Shearwater.

The CBC's Shaina Luck and Paul Palmeter live bloggedfrom court.

Bail terms

The four sailors had been staying at CFB Suffield in Alberta, where there is a British army training unit shortly after they were charged.

All applied for changes to their bail terms are were permitted to leave Canada. They had to agree to surrender their British passport to the Royal Navy once back in the U.K.

They were also ordered to report by phone to the Nova Scotia court every Friday and return to Canada five days before their next court date.

A publication ban prevents the details of the bail hearing from being reported. The complainant's identity is also protected by a ban.

None of the allegations against the four men has been tested in court.

Five days have been set aside for the preliminary hearing.

The CBC's Shania Luck will be at provincial court today to follow the proceedings.