Both accused in the murder of young Free State farm manager Brendin Horner have been acquitted of murder and robbery.
Judgment was handed down in the Free State circuit High Court in Bethlehem on Friday.
Both accused, Sekola Matlaletsa and Sekwetje Mahlamba, will now only face two charges of stock theft.
Free State Judge President Cagney Musi ruled that the State had not proved beyond reasonable doubt that they had indeed robbed and killed the young farm manager.
21-year old Horner was found tied to a pole and beaten to death at Paul Roux near Senekal in October last year.
During the trial, the National Prosecuting Authority admitted that it had insufficient evidence to successfully prosecute the accused but that they still face stock theft charges.
The long-awaited DNA results came back in June this year and were not a match to the blood found on the clothes of the suspects.
Both accused had pleaded not guilty from the outset and maintained that the blood found on their clothes was from an animal they had slaughtered.
