Watch: Anger outside court after trio cleared of murdering father as police get involved
Police vans, dogs and riot officers were needed to deal with extraordinary scenes outside Wolverhampton Crown Court after one of the most controversial trial verdicts of recent years.
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The heartbroken family of father-of-seven Deavon Harrison sat through almost a month of evidence and waited four days for the verdicts. As each day passed the tension rose as the mercury rose outside.
After 15 hours and 57 minutes of deliberations, and being told by the trial judge they could give majority verdicts instead of unanimous ones, the 11 jurors filed into court approaching midday yesterday.
When the jury forewoman said the words 'not guilty' against every count of murder, and all three counts against Deavon's girlfriend of two years Kerry Francis, people in the public gallery at Wolverhampton Crown Court they exploded with rage and anger.
Usually 12, but due to one being excused for illness it was 11, seven females and four males, decided the fate of the woman and two teenagers in the dock. Deavon was found dead after suffering gunshot and knife wounds on December 30.
After screaming at the defendants, jury and judge, the group was ejected from the courtroom and then argued with police outside the court building.
There was a delay in proceedings, between the verdicts for Francis and the two teenagers as security guards and police officers removed the irate family members.
