More than $41,000 worth of cannabis found inside a Hamilton Parish man's stereo did not convince a Supreme Court jury yesterday that he was guilty of importing it.

Jamaka Kamal Gibbons, of Parson's Road, Pembroke, was found not guilty of three charges of importation, possession with intent to supply, and handling with intent to supply a controlled substance.

Gibbons was arrested at the airport on March 2 last year less than three hours after returning from a four-day trip to New York.

He was detained at the Customs inspection desk after a Customs officer became suspicious about the unsealed box of Gibbons' new stereo system.

Five packages containing a total of 836 grams of cannabis were found inside the stereo's main component and speakers.

But Gibbons repeatedly denied any awareness of the drugs inside his stereo.

And yesterday the eight-woman, four-man jury took four hours to reach their majority verdict.

Jurors returned to the court room twice during their deliberations.

On the first occasion they were summoned by Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller who wished to ensure the progress of their deliberations.

The second time, jurors returned to clarify their understanding.

The jury foreman asked Mrs. Wade-Miller whether the jury should find in favour of the prosecution or the defence, if there was doubt about the defendant's "guilty knowledge''.

Mrs. Wade-Miller reminded the jury that the burden of proof was on the prosecution and there was no duty on behalf of the accused to prove his innocence.

When the verdict of "not guilty'' on all three counts was read out, Gibbon's father let out a triumphant yell.

And Gibbons himself later told The Royal Gazette : "I kept my trust in the Lord.''