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Man found not guilty in Etna double murder case

A man was found not guilty Wednesday in the deadly shooting of two people inside an Etna apartment building.

Joshua Huber was charged in the deaths of Melissa Zuk, 22, and her boyfriend, Derek Schindler, 30. After more than two days of deliberations, he was found not guilty on all counts.

Upon hearing the not guilty verdict, members of the Schindler and Zuk families broke down in court.

"I just have to believe there is karma, and Josh will hopefully get his one day," said Emily Dailey, Schindler's sister.

Huber showed no emotion in the courtroom when he learned he was a free man. His attorney, Michael Waltman, told Channel 11's Steven Fisher Huber and his family can now move on with their lives. "They are overwhelmed with joy right now," Waltman said. "It's been a long ride for them. They were looking at losing their son for the rest of his life."

Police said Zuk and Schindler were shot and killed April 15, 2016, on Vilsak Street.

Huber's attorney claimed throughout the trial the shooting was in self-defense.

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On Monday, jurors wanted to hear the 911 calls made by Donald Cox, the neighbor who heard the gunshots last April, called 911, confronted Huber and held him at gunpoint until police arrived.

Huber also placed a 911 call, telling the operator his version of the events.

In the call, he told the dispatcher the woman attacked him, and police said Huber shot the couple. Prosecutors alleged the argument started over $40 that was missing.

During the initial testimony, prosecutors called multiple forensic scientists from the Allegheny County Crime Lab who investigated the gun used to kill Zuk and Schindler. The experts concluded Huber fired the weapon or stood close to where the gun was fired.

Huber will spend one more night in jail after his acquittal.

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