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A military judge has found a Canadian Forces officer not guilty of one count of sexual assault and one count of assault.

In a classroom turned into a courtroom at CFB Edmonton, an audible gasp of relief was heard from the accused as Cmdr. Martin Pelletier read out his verdict Wednesday morning.

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Capt. Steven Nordstrom, a medical officer stationed at CFB Shilo with 1 Field Ambulance, had earlier pleaded not guilty to one charge of sexual assault in relation to events on Feb. 19, 2015 and one charge of assault in relation to events on March 13, 2015.

The victim, who cannot be named because of a publication ban but was referred to as J.L., described during testimony in early June how she thought she was going to die while being sexually assaulted by Nordstrom in a Toronto hotel room. She was not present for the verdict.

The pair met while taking military course work in Toronto. J.L. said at one point during a farewell event at a Scottish pub, she stood up to take a photograph and when she sat down again, Nordstrom had put his hand on the chair and grabbed her genitals. The two later went to the Brass Rail strip club, and then back to her hotel room where J.L. alleged he undressed her, then forced himself on her, placing an arm around her neck.