Former professional footballer Kim Wassell walked free from Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday after a jury cleared him of battering to death his former girlfriend Julie Foster.

The jury decided he was not the intruder who broke into 41-year-old Mrs Foster's home at Gilbey Cottages, Elsenham, Essex, and bludgeoned her with a cricket bat as she lay asleep in bed.

The jury of three men and nine women took just over five hours to reach its verdict at the end of the two week trial.

Wassell, 45, of Perton Brook Vale, Wightwick, Wolverhampton, had denied the charge.

The court heard that Mrs Foster - who ran the Blake Hall Birds and Pet Shop in Epping - was last known to be alive at 1.19am on July 10th last year when she made a phone call to the Mystic Meg astrology line. Seven hours later she was found dead in bed by her eight-year-old son Jay.

An intruder had broken in by removing a panel from the back door and savagely beaten Mrs Foster with a cricket bat while she was asleep. She died from multiple head injuries.

Suspicion fell on Wassell, who had recently parted from Mrs Foster after the break-up of their relationship.

Wassell was said to be jealous and besotted with Mrs Foster and the prosecution alleged that he snapped and killed her because he could not bear to be without her.

The court heard that Wassell, a freight handler at Stansted Airport, went to Gilbey Cottages at 8.30 that morning by pre-arrangement to collect some belongings. He arrived minutes after the murder had been discovered and Jay told him: "Mummy's dead."

Wassell was arrested at the scene by police on suspicion of murder but was released because of insufficient evidence. He was re-arrested in September and charged with the killing.

The cornerstone of the prosecution case was a pair of charcoal grey gloves, belonging to Wassell, which were found on a garden swing at his lodgings in Bentfield Road, Stansted.

Prosecutor Christopher Moss QC said there was "strong scientific evidence" that fibres found around the hole in the smashed in door at Gilbey Cottages were indistinguishable from fibres which made up the gloves.

But defence QC Patricia Lynch said the gloves were mass produced and it was possible the fibres on the door had come from some other garment made of similar fibres.

Wassell did not give evidence, but in a long series of interviews he denied killing his ex-girlfriend. He told detectives: "I can't think of any reason why anyone would want to kill her."

Wassell added: "I was very much in love with Julie. The break-up affected me very deeply. I always felt we would get back together again."

Chief Superintendent Ian McNeill, the senior investigating officer said: "The circumstances of Julie Foster's death were thoroughly investigated by the Essex Police Major Investigation Team.

Julie was a popular member of her local community and our thoughts are with Julie's sons Scott and Jay and the rest of the family as they come to terms with what this outcome means to them. Essex Police will continue to provide Family liaison support to the family.

In addition I would like to thank the people of Elsenham for all the assistance they have given to the enquiry team since Julie's tragic death. In view of the jury's decision, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further until we have been able to consider the full implication of their verdict."

Julie's estranged husband Eric Foster, on behalf of all the families, said: "There are no winners, only losers.

"My two children, Jay and Scott, have been robbed of their mother. They will grow up without her love and support and Julie has been robbed of the chance of watching them grow and of their love and laughter.

"Although Julie and I were separated, we remained good friends and we all miss her so much. The boys are coping, this court case will allow them to now move on and get on with their lives, although they will never forget.

"I want to thank family and friends for their support, they have been great. You realise who your real friends are at times like this and Julie had some really good friends.

"I have nothing but praise for the police, they have supported and helped us all the way through this. It has not always been plain sailing but DC Katie Payne (Family Liaison officer) has been there for us and all the officers on the investigation team have been great. It has changed my opinion of the police (they deserve medals).

"I would finally like to ask that Scott and Jay and the family be allowed privacy now. It has all been so difficult and it is important for us to try to get back to a semblance of normality and to move on. Thank you."

Published Monday, May 27, 2002