Updated

Jeffrey Lindor always maintained it was an accident and didn't mean to kill George De Castro.

A jury believed him and acquitted the 28-year-old Laval man of second-degree murder in a road rage case that turned deadly over two years ago.

Lindor ran over De Castro, 42, with his car at the corner of Laurier Avenue and 18th Avenue in the Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie borough on Dec. 9, 2010.

Lindor's lawyer Clemente Monterosso had argued that his client did so out of self-defence, following a shoving match after the two motorists had cut each other off that night. This was all captured on a surveillance video camera from a nearby apartment building, The court heard de Castro had a blood alcohol level double the legal limit and also had traces of cocaine and marijuana in his blood.

Lindor said he tried to get away from De Castro because he was scared, describing him as aggressive and threatening. Lindor said he didn't call 9-1-1 on his cellphone or just stay in his car because he was in shock.

"This guy was banging on my window. I don't understand why the window didn't break because he was trying to get me that night so I was trying to get away and things happened," Lindor said.

"It was an accident. My mom didn't raise (anyone) to kill (anybody)," Lindor said as his message to De Castro's family.

"I'm truly sorry, it was an accident."

The Crown had contended it was an open-and-shut road rage case. The jury of ten men and two women had three possible verdicts: second degree murder, manslaughter or acquittal.

"Justice was done. It was a terrible accident but it remains an accident," Monterosso told reporters.

De Castro's brother told CJAD 800 News he was disappointed by the verdict but declined further comment.