Murder accused Scott Kennedy found not guilty in Supreme Court

After deliberating for nearly a day, a jury has delivered not guilty verdict on a homeless man who’s accused of killing Morwell woman Narelle Emerson.

A jury in the Supreme Court has found Scott Kennedy not guilty of the murder and manslaughter of Narelle Emerson.

A homeless man accused of murdering a Morwell woman has been found not guilty.

Scott Kennedy is a free man after a jury found him not guilty of murdering Narelle Emerson as well as on the alternative charge of manslaughter.

The jury went out on Thursday morning following a three-week trial in the Supreme Court and returned with the not guilty verdicts about 10.45am on Friday.

Emerson, 45, was found unresponsive in her Sydney Rd home on October 18, 2019 and later died from her injuries at The Alfred hospital.

The Crown case was that Kennedy, who was the last person seen with Emerson in her home, killed her while the defence blamed her partner John Flegg who has since died.

Mr Flegg told police at the time that he left after an argument with Ms Emerson on the night of October 18, 2019, leaving Mr Kennedy alone with her.

Supreme Court judge Justice Jane Dixon presided over the Scott Kennedy murder trial.

When he returned the next day, Mr Flegg said he thought her house had been robbed as there were a lot of items on the floor in the hallway and into her bedroom. He heard Ms Emerson snoring but didn’t check on her until two hours later, and called 000.

Kennedy’s lawyer Glen Casement told the jury Mr Flegg was responsible for her death, not a homeless man.

He said rather than checking on Ms Emerson, Mr Flegg made three cups of tea, watched television and painted a trailer outside.

Following the verdict, Justice Jane Dixon thanked the jury for their work in sitting through a long trial, as well as the court officials.