AN ISLE of Wight man has been acquitted of the murder of Scott Cooper.

Piers Brazier, of George Street, Ryde, had been accused of murdering 33-year-old Scott Edward Cooper in a property on George Street.

His body was found by police on January 4 of last year, in a shower cubicle at Mr Brazier’s address.

He had suffered multiple stab wounds, including to the face and neck.

After a three-week long trial, today (Thursday), members of the jury reached a unanimous verdict of not guilty.

This was the second time Mr Brazier had to stand trial over the death of Mr Cooper.

On January 4, the victim’s body was found in Mr Brazier's flat, and on January 7, police named the deceased and informed his next of kin.

A post-mortem revealed Mr Cooper had suffered more than 20 injuries, ranging from stab wounds to grazes.

Three were stab wounds to his neck; among them, the principal injury, which would have proved rapidly fatal.

Police had attended Mr Brazier's address twice — the first time at around 2.50am, acting on information that there had been a domestic complaint.

Not looking for a body at this stage, officers did not look behind the closed shower curtain. 

Following further calls to police, officers attended the address a second time at approximately 12.48pm. 

They soon discovered the body of Mr Cooper, upside down in a shower cubicle.

Mr Cooper’s murder trial was the first to be held on the Island since the IW Crown Court was opened in 1993.

They are usually sent to Winchester or Southampton.