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A dramatic end to the trial of two former Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre (EMDC) staffers freed one man, sent another one back to court and left the mother of a third furious at the justice system.

After two days of deliberating, a jury Tuesday night acquitted former operations manager Stephen Jurkus of failing to provide the necessaries of life to inmate Adam Kargus, who was murdered in his cell Oct. 31, 2013.

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But the jury could not reach a decision on the same charge against co-accused, former correctional officer Leslie Lonsbary.

That led to the declaration of a mistrial and will see Lonsbary back in court again next week.

“As a family, we are really disappointed,” Kargus’s mother, Deb Abrams, said shortly after a verdict was reached about 9 p.m. Tuesday.

“We feel like no one really cares. There is no justice and that verdict and lack of a verdict means there’s not going to be changes, and that’s what we wanted for our son, for other inmates.”