WINNIPEG — A Winnipeg teen has been found not guilty of participating in the random beating death of a stranger on the street.
Jurors spent two days deliberating before reaching their verdict late Wednesday night.
The 19-year-old male, who can’t be named because he was 15 at the time of the October 2006 slaying, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder when his trial began in early June.
Three young girls have already admitted to their roles in Audrey Cooper’s beating, which police say is the worst they’ve seen.
Cooper suffered 64 separate injuries in the unprovoked attack, which came after she refused the teens’ requests for a cigarette.
She was stripped naked and left to die after seven of her ribs were broken, her liver was lacerated and she was beaten so badly both of her eyes were swollen shut and she had bleeding on the brain.
Crown prosecutor Ami Kotler noted in her closing arguments the accused admitted punching Cooper and that other witnesses have testified he joined in on the kicking and stomping of the unconscious woman.
One of the convicted girls, who was 12 at the time of the beating, testified last week that the accused urinated on Cooper’s body before fleeing the scene.
Kotler said the fact police found a pool of urine at the crime scene proves the girl is telling the truth.