Closing arguments under way in asbestos trial

W.R. Grace & Co. and three former executives were acquitted Friday of federal charges that they knowingly allowed Libby residents to be exposed to asbestos from its vermiculite mine in northwestern Montana.

Jurors received the case Wednesday, nearly 11 weeks after hearing opening arguments.

An indictment unsealed four years ago charged that W.R. Grace and several of its one-time executives knowingly endangered the lives of mine workers and other residents of Libby and ignored warnings by state agencies to clean up the vermiculite mining operation.

Charges against two executives were dropped during the trial at the request of prosecutors. The jury acquitted Henry Eschenbach, Jack Wolter and Robert Bettacchi.

Gayla Benefield of Libby, who suffers health effects from asbestos exposure and lost both parents to asbestos-related lung diseases, said she doesn't know what the next step will be.

"They have gotten away with murder. That's all I can say," she said.