Jurors this afternoon found construction worker Emil Atanasov, who lives in St Paul’s Bay, not guilty of the murder of Krstic Dragoljub.

He was acquitted of all charged by seven votes against two.

The jurors concluded that he acted in self-defence when he attacked the victim during an argument which erupted late at night over loud music being played at their apartment.

The victim's body had been found face up in a narrow stairwell between the first and second floors at a block of apartments in Triq il-Merluzz in Buġibba.

Lawyer Malcolm Mifsud appeared for Mr Atanasov.