All five former Team Canada players; Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Cal Foote have been acquitted of charges of sexual assault.

McLeod was also found not guilty of an additional charge of being a party to the offence.

The judge in the trial says she did not find the testimony of complainant E.M. “credible or reliable” and that the Crown failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

In a lengthy and detailed decision delivered in London, Ontario, Justice Maria Carroccia said the Crown did not meet the onus on all counts against the five accused.

Justice Carroccia found that consent occurred in the incident as outlined in evidence presented in the court and that the consent was not provided out of fear. She also outlined a number of inconsistencies in E.M.’s testimony.

Audible gasps of relief from family members of the accused were reportedly heard in the courtroom as the judge read her decision.