George Gwaze has been found not guilty of the sexual violation and murder of his 10-year-old niece.
After a four-week retrial, a jury of seven men and five women took almost 15 hours to reach its verdict at the High Court in Christchurch today (Tues).
Gwaze, a 60-year-old Zimbabwean vet, had denied one count of murder and two charges of sexual violation of HIV-positive Charlene Makaza, who he and his wife Sifiso adopted in January, 2007.
He remained calm when the jury returned the verdicts while members of his family in the gallery cheered and clapped.
He thanked Justice Christine French and bowed in the dock as she told him he was free to go.
