DEN BOSCH - A 27-year-old man from Maastricht was acquitted on appeal Wednesday of murdering a 40-year-old Belgian during a drug deal in Cadier en Keer, Limburg. The court earlier imposed 14 years in prison for murder.

At the time, the Dutch drug dealer was robbed by three Belgian customers. He went in pursuit drove them stuck in a residential area.

The court convicted the drug dealer of murder because the Belgians told them he shot at their car and their friend. The court found those statements unreliable. There is a chance that the gun went off three times in a struggle between the Dutchman and the Belgian, the court considered.

The suspect was convicted Wednesday of drug trafficking and weapons possession, however. The court imposed 3 years in prison but because the man has already served that sentence he will be released immediately Wednesday.