Thu Jul 24 23:07:04 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:

**News Article:**

**Canadian Hockey Sexual Assault Trial Ends in Acquittal; Judge Cites Lack of Credibility**

**London, Ontario** – A highly publicized sexual assault trial involving five former members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey team concluded Thursday with Judge Maria Carroccia finding all defendants not guilty. The case, which ignited a national debate about the culture of sexual assault within Canadian hockey, centered on allegations made by a woman, identified only as EM, stemming from an incident at a London, Ontario hotel following a team celebration in 2018.

Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, and Cal Foote all pleaded not guilty, maintaining that EM was a willing participant in the sexual acts. Judge Carroccia, delivering her verdict, stated that she did not find EM’s testimony “credible or reliable” and that the complainant had failed to prove the encounter was “vitiated by fear.” She also noted the woman’s “tendency to blame others” when confronted with inconsistencies in her memory.

The verdict drew immediate reactions, with EM’s lawyer, Karen Bellehumeur, expressing her client’s deep disappointment, stating that EM “has never experienced not being believed like this before.” Bellehumeur also implied that the justice system had failed her client.

David Humphrey, lawyer for Michael McLeod, hailed the decision as a “resounding vindication” for his client and the other defendants.

The case has had far-reaching consequences beyond the courtroom. The allegations led to the resignation of Hockey Canada’s CEO and the organization’s entire board of directors in 2022 amid intense scrutiny and revelations of an out-of-court settlement with EM. The trial was unusual in that two juries had previously been dismissed, leading to a judge-only verdict. The conclusion of the trial is unlikely to end the broader conversation surrounding sexual misconduct in hockey and the treatment of alleged victims within the legal system.

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