A Jamaican charged with importing more than $230,000 of cocaine walked free yesterday after a Supreme Court jury was deadlocked after seven hour?s deliberation.

Lincoln George Brown, 37, from Rock Valley, Warwick, had pleaded not guilty to charges of importing 939.81 grams of cocaine and possession of drugs with the intent to supply.

Outside court yesterday, a relieved Mr. Brown told : ?I knew God was going to bring me through. I give thanks to my family for their support.?

However Brown could be be re-indicted if the Director of Public Prosecutions, Vinette Graham-Allen, decides to pursue the matter.

Mr. Brown hoped for an early end to the matter.

He said: ?I think they should reach a decision, I feel bad about the situation I am in and I want to put it behind me.?

His lawyer Shade Subair declined to comment after her first Supreme Court defence case while Prosecutor Anthony Blackman said it was a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions. Ms Graham Allen could not be reached for comment.

Jurors had returned at 4.20 p.m. yesterday, seven hours after they were first sent out, and told Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons they were still deadlocked at 7-5.

For a jury to reach a verdict nine must be agreed. One juror indicated the deadlock had set in before lunch while the forewoman indicated nobody was likely to budge.

Ms Simmons said: ?It?s been a very long day. I have received this note from the jury indicating they are hopelessly deadlocked.

?In the circumstances I think we have a hung jury in this case.? She then discharged the jury.

Mr. Brown was arrested on April 5, 2003, at Bermuda airport with cocaine with a street value of around $234,960 duct-taped in plastic bags inside the pockets of several pairs of jeans.

He had told the court he had been given the jeans at Montego Bay airport by a man from Bermuda called Barney who said his girlfriend?s bag was too full to take them.