A jury returned a not-guilty verdict in an hour Friday, acquitting a Clinton man of assaulting his neighbour.

The verdict came at the end of a five-day trial for Tadas Rimdzius, The 65-year old was charged with assault causing bodily harm and aggravated assault.

The Crown told a 12-person jury at the outset that Rimdzius blindsided his neighbour, Michael Ward, without provocation after the two had an argument in the Cariboo Lodge.

A trucker found Ward unconscious in a heap on the Cariboo Highway. He was taken to hospital

Defence lawyer Jeremy Jensen argued Rimdzius was acting in self-defence, protecting himself from a man with a criminal record for violence.

Rimdzius also gathered a substantial criminal record over his lifetime, but nothing for acts of violence.

Evidence was heard at the trial of the bad blood between the two over debts and borrowed items.