Imagine being locked up for a crime you didn't commit - and having to wait over a year for a chance to clear your name and taste freedom again.
That's what happened to Gilbert Martinez who was on remand at the Hattieville prison for 19 months, after he was accused of killing Benjamin Ku in San Ignacio town.
At 2:47 this afternoon, after three hours of deliberation - pronounced Martinez not guilty of murder and manslaughter. The jury weighed evidence from four witnesses - but none was convincing enough to produce a conviction. For Martinez - the vindication is sweet - but he's still got a bitter taste in his mouth for being falsely accused.
Gilbert Martinez, Acquitted Murder
"Justice is served and I thank God for that."
Alfonso Noble,
"You were in jail for 2 and a half years. Do you think you were there unjustly?"
Gilbert Martinez,
"Well I believe the prosecution branch failed to do their investigation properly. They really failed."
Alfonso Noble,
"Now you were in the room at the time of the incident, what do you know happened?"
Gilbert Martinez,
"All I remembered is that this man, Benjamin Ku, began choking me and then another man came from beside the steps and also attacked me. I have a big scar to prove that the man attacked me and tried to kill me."
"Benjamin Ku was choking me and I believe that's how he got his injury."
"I am innocent. It's unfair to a man serving time and the witnesses who are my relatives never did come and visit me."
Because he has been tried and acquitted, Martinez cannot be arrested for the same charge again - so it's left to be seen if police will find anyone to answer for Ku's murder.