A 22-YEAR-OLD man has been found not guilty of conspiring to rob a drug dealer - an incident which resulted in his brother's death. 

A jury at Winchester Crown Court reached a majority verdict after deliberating for just more than four hours.

Reece Harkness, 20, of Cleaver Road, Buckskin, was on trial accused of conspiring to rob Jordan Clarke.

It was alleged that Reece Harkness, along with his elder brother Troy Harkness, 22, and Zack Mason, 20, of no fixed abode, conspired to rob Mr Clarke on January 19, 2022.

On the same night, Troy Harkness was found seriously injured in Abbey Road, near the junction with Popley Way.

READ MORE: Jury deliberating if dead man's brother is guilty

He was taken to Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

In August last year, Mr Clarke was found not guilty of murdering the 22-year-old.

After the jury found that Reece Harkness was not guilty of participating in a conspiracy to rob Mr Clarke, Judge Angela Morris thanked the jury.

She told Mr Harkness: “You have an opportunity here. You lost your brother that night. Whatever right or wrong happened that night, your brother lost his life.

“I hope you think about it very long and very hard and about your future. Make sure it’s not going down a path where your brother lost his life over a year ago.

“Mr Harkness you are free to go. Go and make something of your life.”

The sentencing for Zack Mason will be held at the same court on March 17.