ADRIAN Bradshaw is enjoying his first taste of freedom for almost a year after being cleared of murdering Vicky Hall.The jury at Norwich Crown Court today took just one and a half hours to find Bradshaw not guilty.

By Tracey Sparling

ADRIAN Bradshaw is enjoying his first taste of freedom for almost a year after being cleared of murdering Vicky Hall.

The jury at Norwich Crown Court today took just one and a half hours to find Bradshaw not guilty.

Comprised of seven men and five women the jury returned their verdict to a hushed court room at Norwich Crown Court at 12.10pm.

The female foreman of the jury stood, and when asked whether the jury found Bradshaw, 27, of Felnor Walk, Felixstowe guilty or not guilty, she replied: "Not guilty".

Graham and Lorinda Hall remained impassive as they sat at the back of the public gallery with their son Steven, 17, a few rows in front of them, Gemma Algar sat – the last person too see Vicky Hall alive, wiping away tears.

Praising the Hall and Bradshaw families conduct during the trial The Honourable Mr Justice Moses said: "Throughout the case all those from families of both sides have behaved with enormous dignity and have attracted admiration from all of us in court.

"Undoubtedly what happened in September 1999 was the most appalling tragedy and all our sympathies go to the family of Vicky Hall.

"But it is important for all of us to recall that a trial which ends with a not guilty verdict is just as much a vindication that justice has been done, as a trial which ends in guilty."

Prior to the jury being sent out to consider their verdict Judge Justice Moses told them: "Forget what you have been told about majority verdicts, you must be unanimous in your decision."

The members of the jury retired, armed with maps tracking Vicky Hall's final steps and her resting place, and details of soil sample analysis, to try and unravel the mystery of her disappearance and tragic death.

Bradshaw, 27, of Felnor Walk, Felixstowe stood in the dock in a dark suit and blue shirt, flanked by security guards, as the 12th day of the murder trial began

He sipped from a plastic cup of water and stared straight ahead of him.

Mr Bradshaw has always denied he murdered the 17-year-old A Level student, who disappeared on September 19, 1999, after a night out at the Bandbox Nightclub in Felixstowe. Her body was found five days later on September 24, in a water-filled ditch at Creeting St Peter.