After four days of deliberation in the murder trial of David Benbow the jury has been discharged, unable to reach a verdict.
Benbow was accused of murdering his childhood friend Michael McGrath in 2017. But no body or murder weapon was ever found - meaning evidence was entirely circumstantial.
Leaving court still on bail and still unsure of his future, Benbow's lawyer reacted to a hung jury in the murder case against him.
"Obviously we're disappointed with the verdict, other than that there's nothing appropriate to say at this stage other than, we'll see you again shortly," defence lawyer Marc Corlett KC said.
That's if there is a retrial and if so, when. But he said Benbow is coping with the news well.
"He's held up to it all remarkably well, remarkably well," Corlett said.
A long-time friend of the accused murderer also expressed disappointment.
"I feel sorry for his mum. Everyone is rooting for a verdict to come out, everyone's tired and stressed and ready for this to be over, same with Dave," Vicki Sands said.
It's stressful too for the family of McGrath who leave with no outcome despite six years of investigations and then six weeks of evidence.
The jury deliberated for 20 hours over four days but couldn't agree, so the judge dismissed them at 3pm on Monday.
"I've resolved rather than give you any further direction and suggest you take more time that we've reached the stage where it's appropriate to discharge you from bringing in a verdict in this case at all, meaning that you will be discharged," the judge said.
The case was unusual because there was no body or murder weapon ever found and the Crown case against him at trial was entirely circumstantial.
"There's no body to examine, there's no murder weapon, there's no DNA, no fingerprints, no decisive forensics and no confessions," Crown prosecutor Barnaby Hawes said.
Benbow and McGrath were two childhood mates that lived in the quiet, peaceful suburb of Halswell for almost all of their lives. Benbow helped McGrath when he was depressed, and McGrath helped Benbow with many building projects including building his deck. But that friendship ended with a missing man and a murder trial.
During six weeks of evidence, the Crown alleged Benbow was a clever and calculating killer. But the defence said quite the opposite.
And now in the case of no body, no weapon, there is also no verdict.
McGrath's family are no closer to understanding what happened one day in May, six years ago - when he disappeared without a trace.
