A man has been found not guilty of perverting the course of justice in relation to the disappearance and suspected murder of Christopher Dean Watkins.
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Police believe Matthew James Badkin was one of the last people to see the 28-year-old on August 7, 2013.
Mr Badkin faced a four-day Launceston Supreme Court trial, before Justice Robert Pearce, this week after pleading not guilty to the charge.
The court heard Mr Badkin provided four inconsistent statements to police in the days and weeks proceeding Mr Watkins' disappearance.
Throughout the police interviews, Mr Badkin said he left a Box Street unit at Mayfield with Mr Watkins and a friend, but Mr Watkins wanted to get out of the car so they dropped him near the Newnham IGA.
The 35-year-old told police different version of events of August 7, including one about going to his partner's house and smoking marijuana with Mr Watkins' housemate, Christopher Brewer-Parker.
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Crown Prosecutor Luke Brett said Mr Badkin remembered specific details from the night, but conveniently couldn't remember the crucial period surrounding the disappearance of Mr Watkins.
Defence lawyer Charmaine Gibson told the court her client tried his best to answer the questions police were asking, but the officers' questions confused him.
"He doesn't have a story. He says what his best memory of the moment is," she said.
Ms Gibson told the court Mr Badkin was unreliable at the time of the disappearance because of his drug use.
Mr Badkin was using ice heavily in 2013, but gave up the drug about three years ago.
Cassandra Simpson, Mr Badkin's partner, told the court they'd been in an on-and-off relationship for the past 18 years.
The jury heard on the night in question Ms Simpson saw Mr Badkin leaving the house with a rifle - something she said was common because he was always going hunting and fishing.
"He's done that all his life," she said.
Deliberations began about 3pm on Wednesday, but the jury didn't reach a majority verdict until 3.30pm on Thursday.
In July 2015, police announced a $50,000 reward for anyone who provides information that led to a prosecution in Mr Watkins' case.
Information can be provided to police on 131 444.
