Three acquitted in Caribbean murder trial

Three American men charged with the murder of a Connecticut artist in the British Virgin Islands have been acquitted.

The ruling by Judge Kenneth Benjamin leaves a New York financial adviser to stand trial for the murder of Lois McMillen.

The court is continuing with the trial of the fourth accused man, William Labrador, 37, of Southampton, New York.

Alexander Benedetto, 35, who works for a New York book publisher; Michael Spicer, 37, a law student from Albemarle County, Virginia; and Evan George, 23, an unemployed construction worker from Washington DC have been released due to a lack of evidence.

The men had been in jail in the British Virgin Islands since January 2000.

The jury declared the three innocent of murder, but they were released on bail to appear before court officials regarding a lesser charge of perverting the course of justice.