A man who was charged with murder in the beating death of his cousin last year was found not guilty Wednesday in Richmond County Superior Court.

A jury found Brian Lorenzo Smoot innocent of beating Donte Safford, 24, to death with a metal rod in September 2007.

Mr. Safford was hit several times in the neck and head, according to law enforcement officials.

Mr. Smoot's defense attorney, Bryan Grantham, said jurors heard evidence that Mr. Safford had had an argument with his wife that evening and went to Mr. Smoot's house intoxicated with alcohol and cocaine. Once there, he started an argument and a fight with him.

Mr. Grantham said Mr. Smoot was much smaller than Mr. Safford and that there was evidence Mr. Safford had Mr. Smoot in a choke hold and that Mr. Smoot got a rebar and struck him with it.

"We're pleased with the jury's verdict and believe they did a good job with what they found to be a lack of evidence in this case," Mr. Grantham said.