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Man not guilty of wife's death in 4th trial

Posted at 2:53 PM, May 24, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-25 08:04:16-04

A wealthy New York man on trial for a fourth time since his wife disappeared in 2001 has been found not guilty of murder.

A judge in Schoharie County ruled for Calvin Harris on Tuesday, almost eight weeks after the nonjury trial started.

Michele Harris disappeared the night of the Sept. 11 terror attacks. Prosecutors say Calvin Harris killed his 35-year-old wife when she came home to the Southern Tier estate they shared with their four children.

Defense lawyers say authorities overlooked another suspect she met during the freewheeling life she led as her marriage broke up.

Michele Harris' body has never been found and prosecutors relied on a largely circumstantial case.

Two previous guilty verdicts against Harris were overturned, and a third trial last year ended in a mistrial.