Laverton’s Halil Kocoglu wept and thanked a Supreme Court jury after they today acquitted him of murder.
Mr Kocoglu, 31, was charged with the murder of Branko “Frank” Juran, whose decomposed body was found in Mile Creek, near the Cheltenham Rd-EastLink overpass, on February 21, 2008.
Police believe the unemployed 47-year-old, who had a minor criminal history, was stabbed before his throat was slit several days earlier.
Heavy rain is believed to have washed his body about 1.2 kilometres downstream, where it was discovered by an EastLink worker.
The jury heard Mr Juran was believed to have been lured into a dark grey 1992 Holden Commodore sedan fitted with distinctive mag wheels by two associates after they arrived unexpectedly at the Noble Park home he shared with his mother.
The prosecution argued Kocoglu was one of two men responsible.
But a jury of four men and eight women took less than 30 minutes to acquit him of the charge.
Kocoglu — who unsuccessfully sought to suppress his identity due to alleged threats made against him — put his face in his hands and sobbed after the jury forewoman announced he was not guilty.
“Thank you so much,” he told the jurors as they left the court.
When Justice Emilios Kyrou announced that Kocoglu could leave the dock and sit in the body of the court with is family, he said: “Your Honour, my legs have just gone out on me.”
He later hugged relatives as he was released from custody.
Mr Juran’s family slammed the desk in front of them and expressed their disgust at the verdict, before they left court.
– The Age
