Key takeaways:
- A federal jury in the United States found Stephen Tyler Bieneman not guilty of misdemeanor assault in connection with an incident at McMurdo Station.
- Bieneman testified that he did not initiate the incident or harm the woman.
- The verdict brings closure to this particular case, but the issue of safety and security at the station remains a pressing concern.
A federal jury in the United States has found a man not guilty of assaulting a woman at a research station in Antarctica. The case had drawn attention due to reports of harassment and assault at the station.
Stephen Tyler Bieneman was found not guilty of misdemeanor assault in connection with an incident last November at McMurdo Station. After a day of testimony, the jury deliberated for 1-1/2 hours before reaching their verdict. Bieneman had testified that he did not initiate the incident or harm the woman.
Upon hearing the verdict, Bieneman was visibly emotional, pulling tissues from a box on the defense table and crying. Outside the courtroom, he spoke of the toll the case had taken on his reputation. His attorney, Birney Bervar, said the verdict vindicated his client.
The case has highlighted the issue of harassment and assault at research stations in Antarctica. The verdict brings closure to this particular case, but the issue of safety and security at the station remains a pressing concern.
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