A Grand Forks jury found Nichole Rice not guilty for the murder of her roommate Anita Knutson in 2007.

The jury began deliberating Tuesday afternoon, and were sent home for the evening around 7:30 p.m. The jury reconvened at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning, and reached a verdict an hour later. In total, the jury deliberated for just shy of five and half hours.

District Court Judge Richard Hagar asked the jury leader to confirm they reached a verdict. As the court clerk read out the not guilty verdict, Rice, her attorneys, family, and friends erupted with emotion and embraced each other. Rice was in tears while Hagar restored order to the courtroom and closed the hearing.

Read the full story in Thursday’s edition of The Minot Daily News.