Habs legend Guy Lafleur testifies in Montreal trial

Hockey legend Guy Lafleur appeared in court Thursday in his defence against a charge of giving contradictory testimony, telling a judge it never occurred to him to mention his son's hotel tryst while he was under curfew.

Lafleur is on trial on a charge of giving contradictory testimony during a bail hearing on various criminal charges for his son Mark in 2007.

The former hockey star agreed to supervise his son and ensure he abided by a court-ordered curfew, but failed to tell a judge that he drove his son to a hotel to spend a night with his 16-year-old girlfriend.

In his testimony Thursday, Lafleur told Judge Claude Parent that when his son asked him about spending a night at the hotel, he asked him whether his bail conditions allowed that.

Lafleur said his son answered yes.

He never mentioned the incident during Mark's bail hearing because he said he didn't think it was important, Lafleur said. Parent told Lafleur he was surprised by that answer.

Lafleur is the only defence witness in his trial. If convicted on the count he could face up to 14 years in prison.

He has maintained he is no criminal, and has launched a $3.5-million civil suit against Montreal police and Crown prosecutors over the warrant for his arrest.

Mark Lafleur is serving a 15-month community service sentence after pleading guilty in 2008 to charges related to his relationship with a teenage girl.

He pleaded guilty to 14 charges including uttering death threats, forcible confinement and assault. He was acquitted of two charges of sexual assault.

Guy Lafleur, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, had a long NHL career ending in 1991, playing right-wing mostly with the Montreal Canadiens. His 17-year career included five Stanley Cup championships.