MISSOULA, Mont., May 8 (UPI) -- A jury in Montana Friday acquitted chemical products company W.R. Grace and three of its executives of criminal charges in hundreds of asbestos-related deaths.

The defendants were charged with knowingly contaminating Libby, Mont., with asbestos and then conspiring to cover it up. Following a three-month trial, the federal jury in Missoula deliberated less than two days before deciding the company was not guilty, The New York Times reported Friday.


The judge in the case late last month said he was considering throwing out the charges due to prosecutorial misconduct -- including repeated violations of court orders and the use of a star witness who lacked credibility. The judge eventually dismissed all charges against one of the defendants.

Scientists have said a disproportionately high number of Libby residents died from asbestos-related diseases, and it had been established that the Zonolite Mountain vermiculite mine operated by W.R. Grace between 1963 and 1990 was the source of the asbestos.

Prosecutors contended company executives knew their vermiculite production caused health problems and did nothing but the executives said they made good-faith efforts to protect workers.