Posted: Mar 08, 2021 2:52 PM CT | Last Updated: March 8 Manuel Ruiz was accused of sexually assaulting a woman when she was just 12.(Ronin Ryu School of Martial Arts website) A Winnipeg firefighter and martial arts instructor has been acquitted on historical sexual assault charges stemming from alleged assaults on a woman who said he started to touch her inappropriately when she was just 12 years old. Court of Queen's Bench Justice Joan McKelvey said it was a "very difficult" decision when announcing her rationale last Friday for finding Manuel Ruiz not guilty of sexual assault, forcible entry and uttering threats. The case centred around a woman who alleged she was assaulted between 1986 and 1993 at a Sherbrook Street martial arts gym when she was a minor and unable to consent.