A Calgary man raised his hands in victory outside court Friday after learning murder charges against him have been stayed.
Branko Grgic, 51, had been charged with one count of second-degree murder for the death of 58-year-old Anto Slisko.
“I prayed to God…and now I’m a free person,” Grgic told Global News.
Slisko’s body was found on June 3, 2010 in the 100 block of Panatella View N.W.
At the time, police said Slisko was hired to paint the house, which was under construction and unoccupied.
An autopsy determined he died of blunt force trauma.
The prosecution has one year to proceed with the case, but Grgic’s defence lawyer, Joan Blumer, said that’s unlikely to happen.
“His shoes were seized unlawfully and without the shoes, the prosecution hasn’t got a case,” Blumer said.