MICHAEL USHER investigation leads to acquittal for SCOTT AUSTIC

Scott Austic has been acquitted of murder following a major 7NEWS investigation

7NEWS welcomes the not guilty verdict delivered in the retrial of WA father of two, Scott Austic, who languished in jail for 13 years for the murder of his partner Stacey Thorne.

The legal victory handed down Friday evening follows a two-year major investigation by 7NEWS’ Michael Usher which presented convincing proof that crucial evidence against Austic was planted at the scene of the crime and his home by WA police to frame him.

That evidence included a knife that didn’t hold Austic’s DNA or match the victim’s deeper stab wounds, a blood-stained cigarette packet from Austic’s verandah that was missing from an earlier police video and a Jim Beam can that also turned up during the investigation in similarly suspicious circumstances.

Commenting on the landmark victory, Usher said:

“Finally Scott has justice. He maintained from the very beginning he was innocent. His amazing mum never gave up campaigning for her son. I’m very proud of our long-running investigation into Scott’s case. The alleged evidence just never made sense and a jury took just a few short hours to agree that Scott was guilty. However, justice now needs to be served for Stacey Thorne. She lost her life, and her unborn baby. Her family now need WA Police to find her killer.”

Michae Usher will tonight (Saturday) present a special report on the case and acquittal in 7NEWS live at 6.00, featuring exclusive interviews with Austic and his family.