A newly-wed couple who were among the first to be charged with the serious crime of rioting in connection with the protests in Hong Kong were found not guilty on Friday.

The judge in the case said there was no direct evidence against the defendants, who were arrested on July 28 near the site of clashes between protesters and the police. They could have been sent to prison for seven years if convicted.

The couple, Elaine To and Henry Tong, who run a gym, made headlines in Hong Kong when they got married in August, days after the charges were brought against them.

“Our emotions were verging on a breakdown before the verdict,” Tong told reporters outside the courthouse on Friday. “We did have a sigh of relief after they cleared us.” The couple bowed and held hands as supporters chanted, “There are no rioters, only tyranny!”

Hundreds of people have been charged with rioting since the protests began in June of last year. When the police began making arrests on that charge, it was seen as an escalation in the authorities’ response, because of the length of the sentences. Dropping the characterisation of protesters as “rioters” has been one of the movement’s main demands.