Within minutes of starting to read her verdict, the words of Justice Maria Carroccia resonated across Canada as she bluntly assessed that, “I do not find the evidence of E.M. to be either credible or reliable.

Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton were found not guilty of sexual assault after a trial in London, Ontario.

An Ontario judge acquitted five former members of Canada's world junior hockey team on Thursday in their sexual assault case, saying the complainant's allegations lacked the credibility needed to justify the charges.