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After deliberating for three hours Wednesday, a jury acquitted the man police say was responsible for the stabbing death of a neighbor, chalking up the attack to self-defense.

Ansumana Jadama, 23, was found not guilty on all counts — a charge of murder and a charge of aggravated burglary, both first-degree felonies — more than three years after he was arrested in South Salt Lake, wrapping up a three-day trial that began Monday in 3rd District Court.

"The defense was premised on he acted in self-defense, and there was insufficient evidence to prove otherwise," said Rudy Bautista, Jadama's attorney.

The prosecutor, Chou Chou Collins of the Salt Lake County district attorney's office, declined to comment.

Jadama, a West African immigrant, was accused of stabbing to death 48-year-old Richard D. Magnuson on Sept. 25, 2013, outside the latter man's apartment near 3400 South 500 East. Magnuson had a knife stuck in his abdomen and later died at a local hospital. Shortly after, officers arrested Jadama, who lived next door, and found a knife handle in his apartment, according to charging documents.

Jadama told detectives that Magnuson and his partner had tried to enter Jadama's apartment in a prior event and accused the two of burglary.

The case was delayed after Jadama was found incompetent to stand trial in February 2014. His competency was determined to be restored in 2015.

Jadama previously pleaded guilty to domestic violence-related burglary and criminal mischief for a June 2012 incident in which he apparently kicked in the door of his sister's apartment and demanded money, threatening to kill her. The court granted a protective order for the woman and gave Jadama a 540-day jail sentence — all but seven days were suspended, though, in exchange for restitution for damages and mental health treatment.

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