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It was not disputed the woman stabbed O’Halloran but she was acting in self-defence at the time, her barrister Sharon Lacy told the jury.
The woman had been subjected to violence at the hands of her boyfriend and O’Halloran also had a tendency to act aggressively, Ms Lacy said.
“The defence position is she was in a house alone with two men,” she said. “She had reason to fear both of them.”
But prosecutor Jordan Johnston argued the woman stabbed O’Halloran with the intention to kill or cause him very serious injury.
Twelve jurors retired to consider the verdict on March 12 after hearing weeks of evidence, and returned with their decision just before 1pm on Wednesday.
“Not guilty,” the jury’s foreperson said, in response to both a charge of murder and the alternative charge of manslaughter.
Justice Rita Incerti thanked the jurors for their service and sent them away before addressing the young woman directly.
“This is the end of …a very long journey,” the judge told her.
“You’ve got your family here, I’m not going to keep you waiting.
“It is time to go home.”
The young woman, who is now aged 19, burst into tears and hugged custody officers sitting next to her upon hearing the verdict.
Her family, who came to court to support her throughout the trial, also cried and hugged each other before embracing the woman in court.
She will walk from court a free woman.
AAP
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