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SHERBROOKE, Que. — The three men charged in the Lac-Megantic railway disaster have all been found not guilty of criminal negligence causing the death of 47 people.

The jurors reached the verdict on their ninth day of deliberations Friday.

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Tom Harding, Richard Labrie and Jean Demaitre were charged with criminal negligence in the 2013 tragedy that killed 47 people when a runaway train carrying crude oil derailed and exploded.

Photo by The Canadian Press photos

Harding was the train’s engineer, Labrie the traffic controller and Demaitre the manager of train operations.

All three accused could have been found guilty of criminal negligence causing death, while jurors had the option of convicting Harding on one of two other charges: dangerous operation of railway equipment or dangerous operation of railway equipment causing death.

Each man pleaded not guilty.

None of the three accused presented a defence at the trial, but lawyers for each told the jury in turn the Crown had failed to meet its burden of proof.