A MAN has today walked free from court after being found not guilty of murdering Hampshire grandmother Georgina Edmonds.

Matthew Hamlen stood in the dock as jurors returned their unanimous verdict on the third day of deliberating their decision.

He had always denied the charge.

The panel of 11 jurors have spent seven weeks listening to evidence surrounding the brutal killing of the 77 year-old who was found bludgeoned to death at her home in Kiln Lane, Brambridge, on January 11, 2008.

Mr Hamlen, 33, will now get his first taste of freedom since being locked up 12 months ago when detectives charged him with murder.

He has spent his time on remand in a prison out of Hampshire, during which time his fiancée Emma White has given birth to his son.

Hamlen has always strenuously denied being the man responsible for repeatedly stabbing the pensioner across her body before raining blows to her head with a marble rolling pin.

Although he could not remember where he was on the afternoon of the murder, he was seen hours after on CCTV shopping at Sainsbury’s in Eastleigh.

During the trial, Mr Hamlen took the stand to give evidence and said he could not have been the man attempting to use Mrs Edmonds’ cash card because he was not of the same build.

The family of Mrs Edmonds, including daughter Doddie and son Harry, who found his mother’s blood soaked body on the kitchen floor of her cottage, were also in Winchester Crown Court to hear the verdict.

Both were visibly upset as they left Court 3, accompanied by police officers who have liaised with them since their mother’s death.