Man Acquitted For Murder In Love Triangle; Charged With Facilitation Of Robbery And Tampering With Evidence

Jeffrey Mundt was found not guilty for fatally stabbing and shooting a man in his home according to USA Today.

After eight hours of deliberation, a jury acquitted Mundt of murder charged but found him guilty of "facilitation of robbery and tampering with evidence."

"We felt like he should have been acquitted of everything," said Steve Romines, one of Mundt's attorneys. "I hate to have an innocent client taken to jail."

Mundt and his lover Joseph Banis participated in a drug and sex-fueled night that turned deadly in 2009. The couple invited the victim, James Carroll, to join in on the fun when Mundt claimed Banis acted alone in murdering Carroll.

The couple then "smashed the corpse with a sledgehammer so it would fit in a 48-inch plastic container."

Mundt claimed he was intimidated and threatened by Banis to keep mum on the crime, but Mundt refused to live in fear and eventually alerted the authorities. The 911 call was later used during the trail to support the idea that Mundt was a participant against his will.

According to USA Today, both Mundt and Banis admitted to burying the body. The suspects also testified against each other to avoid the death penalty if convicted. Banis' decision to testify also meant he would not be allowed to appeal his conviction.

Prosecutors exhausted all options to try to determine Mundt's exact participation in the murder of Carroll. "There was different evidence as to his level of participation," said Ryane Conroy, an Assistant Commonwealth attorney.

Mundt remains in custody despite his lawyers request that he be placed on house arrest for until sentencing. Mundt has already served four years behind bars and is eligible for parole. Banis was convicted of murder early 2012 thanks to Mundt's testimony.