Justice Maria Carroccia has dismissed a jury for the second time in the sexual assault trial of five former members of Canada’s world junior hockey team.

Justice Carroccia made the announcement on Friday morning. She did not tell the jury the reasons why they were being dismissed.

The turn of events comes days just after the now 27-year-old complainant in the case, who is known publicly as E.M., finished nine days of testimony. Seven of those days were spent under what was often gruelling cross-examination by five defence lawyers.

Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dubé and Cal Foote have each been charged with sexual assault in connection to an alleged attack on E.M. in a downtown London hotel room after a Hockey Canada gala in June, 2018. Mr. McLeod faces a second charge of being a party to sexual assault.