Family's horror as accused killer is found NOT GUILTY in murder of aspiring teacher who was shot dead for his iPod

• e-mail

A man already serving a life sentence was acquitted of murder Wednesday in the shooting death of an aspiring teacher during an iPod robbery in Philadelphia, stunning the victim's family.

The jury deliberated three hours before finding Marcellus Jones not guilty of all charges, including murder and conspiracy to commit robbery, in the death of 23-year-old Beau Zabel.

'Thank you!' Jones yelled out to the jurors when the verdict was announced, while Zabel's parents, sister and brother fought back tears.

Not guilty: Jurors in Philadelphia on Wednesday acquitted Marcellus Jones (left), 37, of all charges in the 2008 shooting death of 23-year-old teaching student Beau Zabel (right)  

Crime scene: Zabel was walking home from his night shift at a Starbucks store when he was shot in the back of the neck in South Philadelphia. This screenshot from 2008 shows the crime scene on Ellsworth Street 

A grainy surveillance video obtained by police showed a man believed to be Jones walking near the crime scene

Zabel moved from Austin, Minnesota, to Philadelphia to start work in the public schools just six weeks before he was killed in June 2008 during a street robbery that netted an iPod. 

At around 1.30am on June 15, 2008, Zabel was walking home from his night shift at a Starbucks store when he was shot in the back of the neck. 

Police believe Jones followed Zabel from the coffee shop to the spot on Ellsworth Street, several blocks away, where he was killed.

Jones, 37, testified in his own defense and denied killing Zabel.

'Hey, your honor. I'm innocent of this crime,' the accused killer said from the stand on Monday. 'I didn't have nothing to do with it, and I can definitely prove it.' 

Beau Zabel had moved from Austin, Minnesota, to Philadelphia just six weeks before his killing to attend Drexel University

During two days of testimony, the defendant repeatedly interrupted proceedings and clashed with both the prosecution and Common Pleas Judge Rose Marie DeFino-Nastasi.

On Tuesday, the 37-year-old argued that he was forced to take the stand and was not willing to answer the prosecutor’s questions.

Police charged Jones in the South Philadelphia slaying two years ago, after he was convicted of killing the suspected getaway driver.

Prosecutors had no DNA or other physical evidence linking him to Zabel's slaying, but said he later told relatives that he killed 19-year-old Tyrek Taylor in September 2008 because the alleged accomplice had been talking about Jones 'killing the teacher,' reported Philadelphia Inquirer.

In closing arguments, Jones' lawyer attacked the credibility of witnesses who testified about Jones' alleged admissions.

Prosecutors also called two witnesses who testified they heard a 'boom,' saw Zabel's body on the sidewalk and then watched a man searching around the body. But they could not provide a detailed description of the suspect.

'Ultimately, there's another judge he'll [Jones] have to pay the price then,' Terry Zabel, Beau's stepfather, told NBC10 at the conclusion of the trial.

Zabel was enrolled in a teaching program at Drexel University, where he planned to teach math to inner-city children during the day and take courses at night.

Zabel's family, pictured here at the scene of his murder after the not guilty verdict, were stunned by the jury's decision Wednesday