Jury Acquits Man in Russian Roulette Death of NJ Man

An Army soldier has been acquitted of manslaughter and homicide charges in the death of a friend during a drunken game of Russian roulette.

Jurors returned not guilty verdicts Thursday for 27-year-old Jacob Brouch. He was found guilty on a weapons misconduct charge.

He was charged in the March 2011 death of 26-year-old Michael McCloskey, of Beverly, N.J.

McCloskey died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his abdomen.

Prosecutors blamed Brouch for the death for handing McCloskey a gun and a bullet for the game.

The death occurred after they went on a 36-hour drinking binge at Brouch's home near Anchorage