It took a jury more than seven hours to return a not guilty verdict in the case of Framondre Griffin.

Griffin, 23, was found not guilty of murder by a 12-member jury late Thursday night.

He was accused of murder in the Dec. 11, 2001 death of Tyronza Walker on University Avenue in Troy.

"I am very, very relieved.

I can't express that enough. I'm sorry for what happened that night and my heart goes to the family of that young man but at the same time I am also very happy that I could bring my son home with me after his trial because my son is not a murderer," Griffin's mother Marion Griffin said through her son's attorney Randy Arnold.

"Everybody that has known Framondre over the years knows that his reputation speaks for itself. I am also proud of the way that my son has handled this whole situation. After defending himself that night and instead of trying to run away from what happened he came directly to his family and then wanted to go to the police with what happened. He was then brave enough to stand up and tell those people at court just exactly what he did and why. As a mother, you could not ask for a better son than that."

District attorney Gary McAliley said the jury did its job in this case.

"It was a fine jury and they did what they thought was right," said District Attorney Gary McAliley.

"I know the jury (in this trial) gave (the evidence) every consideration and it was one of the finest juries I've seen in my 28 years in the law."

McAliley opined the jury must have determined that there was legal provocation in the shooting.

"The defendant was a clean-cut young man who worked at a local pharmacy and I'm sure that was a factor," McAliley said.

Arnold agreed, saying the jury took notes at trial then thoroughly reviewed all the evidence.

"This trial has reinforced my belief that life is nothing more than a series of actions and reactions. The scriptures teach that lesson over and over. The evidence presented to the jury in this case has now demonstrated that concept more than any of us want to admit," he said.

"I hope that anyone who hears about the events of Dec. 11 2001, learned that violence and revenge are no way to alleviate our frustrations. The government prosecuted Mr. Griffin because it did not, in hindsight, believe that he acted reasonably and responsibly in the

face of danger."

Arnold added: "Considering the time and attention tat the jurors gave this trial, I am not surprised that they agreed with me and declared him not guilty of the charges the government filed against him."