An six-year investigation that saw a man extradited from the US to face gun and drug importation charges ended with his name being cleared by a jury yesterday.

David Brangman was alleged by prosecutors to have hidden a semi-automatic pistol and ten pounds of cannabis worth up to $236,275 in a television set brought to the Island by courier in December 2002.

He protested his innocence during a four-day trial at Supreme Court this week, insisting that he was the victim of a setup.

Mr. Brangman, a 45-year-old painting contractor with dual Bermudian and US citizenship, admitted buying the TV in New Jersey and shipping it to Bermuda in the name of his ex-girlfriend Angela Simmons.

He also acknowledged that his fingerprints were found on the packaging of the drugs. However, he told the jury that he stored the television in a basement belonging to a man named Randy Thomas who lived in East Orange, New Jersey.

Mr. Brangman claimed he stored equipment for his painting business in the basement, including sticky tape that was used to package the drugs. He asked the jury to accept that Mr. Thomas used his sticky tape to package the illegal items and conceal them in his TV set without his knowledge.

He further claimed that he had no idea the contraband was inside when he took Ms Simmons and the TV to JFK airport, and later helped to arrange to ship the item to Bermuda in her name.

Ms Simmons, 45, of Devonshire, was arrested when the gun and drugs were discovered during security screening in Bermuda.

She was never charged over the incident, and gave evidence during the case as the main witness for the prosecution.

Ms Simmons told the jury she was suspicious when her ex-boyfriend insisted she ship the TV set on his behalf, but did so as a favour to him.

Mr. Brangman told the jury that Mr. Thomas admitted his responsibility for the importation plot to him upon news of Ms Simmons' arrest but was murdered near his home just a couple of days later.

Mr. Brangman was extradited to Bermuda from the US in October 2007.

His defence lawyer, Michael Scott, claimed during the trial that the length of time it took to put him on trial was "most unfair".

The jury cleared his name by majority verdict after two hours and 45 minutes of deliberations yesterday afternoon.

Mr. Brangman greeted the news by bowing to the nine women and three men and telling them: "Thank you very much."

Mr. Scott said afterwards: "I'm happy to express my gratitude to the jury who expressed confidence in my client, who faced very difficult jeopardy in connection with these charges, and express on his behalf what I'm sure is considerable relief that he will be able to go back to his wife and daughter."

Mr. Brangman declined to comment.