In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court cited insufficient proof and the prosecution’s reliance on “circumstantial evidence” that failed to meet the legal standard of “beyond a reasonable doubt” as reasons for its decision to acquit former Chief Justice Gloria Musu Scott.

The former chief justice and some members of her family were found guilty last year by a lower court of murdering 29-year-old Charloe Musu, who was discovered fatally stabbed at the former official’s residence.

“The guilty verdict returned by the jury was against the weight of the evidence and is set aside. The final ruling of the trial court confirming the verdict of the jury is hereby reversed,” current Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Yuoh said while announcing the ruling.