A Pennsylvania jury has found a 66 year old man not guilty in the death of his wife, who disappeared more than eight years ago.
On Friday, jurors acquitted Hap of first and third degree murder, evidence tampering and abuse of a corpse, according to the Associated Press. The judge ordered him released from prison immediately.
Prosecutors had claimed Hap killed his wife, 53 year old Rabihan, and burned her body in a fireplace after she disappeared in 2012. He was charged years later. Prosecutors pointed to black smoke coming from the chimney and bone fragments found in the fireplace.
The defense disputed that Rabihan was dead. Attorney George Matangos said there was no DNA linking the bone fragments to her. After the verdict he said, “Justice eventually does prevail,” and noted that the case had hung over his client for years.
Prosecutors said after the verdict that they stood by their case and the way the investigation was handled.
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