Canadian hockey players all acquitted in assault case

Five former members of Canada's 2018 world junior ice hockey team were found not guilty on Thursday of sexually assaulting a woman, after a trial that ignited debate over the nature of consent.

- Olivia Bowden

Justice Maria Carroccia told a packed Ontario courtroom the crown had not proved the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, ruling that the complainant was "neither credible nor reliable". All five men - Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dubé, Carter Hart and Cal Foote - were found not guilty on all offences.

The charges stemmed from an encounter in a London, Ontario, hotel room in June 2018, after a Hockey Canada gala celebrating the team's world junior championship victory.

There were gasps in the court at the judge's remarks, which came more than seven years after the woman, now 27, first approached police.

"A fair trial is one where decisions are made based on the evidence and the law, not on stereotypes and assumptions, and where the trial process respects the security, equality and privacy rights of the victim as well as the accused persons," said the crown attorney (prosecutor) Meaghan Cunningham after the verdict.

"We will carefully review Justice Carroccia's decision, and as this case is still within the appeal period, we have no further comments to make."