Kelly Soo Park, the woman accused of strangling an aspiring model to death in Santa Monica in 2008, has been found not guilty of both first- and second-degree murder after a week of jury deliberations.
According to reports, the jury acquitted the 47-year-old earlier this morning on both charges in the Superior Court in downtown Los Angeles.
The jury first returned a not guilty verdict on first-degree murder at 9:30 am, but Judge Kathleen Kennedy gave the prosecution and defense 10 minutes each to make additional arguments to the jury on the issue of second-degree murder.
Jurors returned a not-guilty verdict on the lesser charge less than an hour later at 11 am, according to CBS News.
Redding’s body was discovered in her Santa Monica apartment on the 1500 block of Centinela in March 2008.
Prosecutors alleged that Park entered Redding’s apartment and physically assaulted her, causing her death.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Redding previously dated Park’s boss, Dr. Munir Uwaydah, and he was close to launching a pharmaceutical business with Redding’s father, but the father backed out of the deal.
It was alleged that Park acted as a type of enforcer, using threats, intimidation and bullying on behalf of Dr. Uwaydah.
Dr. Uwaydah is believed to be living in Lebanon and was never charged in the case.
Related: Opening Statements Heard In Kelly Soo Park Trial For 2008 Model Murder Case
