Former Tyco Lawyer Belnick Acquitted

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20040715/ap_on_bi_ge/tyco_belnick



NEW YORK - Tyco International Ltd.'s former top lawyer, Mark A. Belnick, was acquitted Thursday of grand larceny, securities fraud and falsifying business records.

The Manhattan state Supreme Court jury returned the verdict in its fifth day of deliberations, while prosecution and defense lawyers had been discussing a possible plea deal.

Belnick, accused of stealing millions by accepting an illegal bonus and abusing company loan programs, had faced up to 25 years in prison if convicted on the top count, grand larceny.

He sat impassively as the jury foreman repeatedly pronounced "Not guilty." On the last count, he bowed his head into his interlaced fingers and began shaking with sobs.