Updated Story From 11 p.m. Newscast

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Murder suspect Dennis Mills was set free Thursday after a jury found him innocent.

The key question in the case was if Mills was a cold-blooded killer or if he acted in self-defense the night Randy Gue died.

Mills took the stand, telling his side of the story.

"There was a progression of events that escalated where deadly force seemed necessary," he said. "Either he was going to kill me or I was going to have to stop him."

In the end, the jury believed Mills.

"He got up there, said Rich Weston, Mills' defense lawyer. "I think the jury looked at him and could tell he was telling the truth, and on cross-examination they got nothing out of him."

It was a verdict that Gue's family and friends were not prepared to hear.

"I would not want to be the jury that made that decision after all that evidence was put in front of them showing that man was 100 percent guilty," said Charlotte Blair, who is Gue's aunt. "He was guilty."

Mills had an emotional outburst after he was acquitted.

"There's nothing to be happy about," he said. "There's nothing to go through my mind. This is just a time to cry."

Following the verdict, Mills was taken to the Western Regional Jail where he was released Thursday evening as a free man.

UPDATE @ 5:07pm Thursday
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A jury has found Dennis Mills not guilty of murder in the stabbing death of Randy Gue at Huntington's Harris Riverfront Park last October.

Gue's family wept in the courtroom as the judge read the verdict.

Earlier Thursday, Mills testified Gue was trying to break into his car--where he was asleep. Mills said he killed gue in self defense.

The defense attorney said it was Mills' testimony that won the case because, bottom line, the jury believed him.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for more information.

Dennis Mills was the only witness for the defense. He told the court that he was provoked; and that it was "kill or be Killed."

Dennis Mills is on trial for the death of Randy Gue.

The prosecution is expected to wrap up its case sometime Thursday morning.

We're told that when the defense presents its case, Mills is expected to testify in his own defense.

The case could go to the jury late Thursday afternoon.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest information.

Dennis Mills is on trial for the murder of Randy Gue. It happened last October at Harris Riverfront Park when Gue was stabbed in the throat. The prosecution said Gue was looking for a lighter in an abandoned car when Mills jumped out, threatened him and slashed his throat.

The defense said Mills was asleep in his car, which was also his home, when Gue tried to break into the car and steal from him.

The victim's girlfriend, Ellen Flees, testified for the prosecution. She was followed by several law enforcement officers and an emergency worker. The case continues Thursday.

Dennis Mills is charged with 1st degree murder in tin the death of 35-year-old Randy Gue.

It happened in the early morning hours last October at Harris Riverfront Park in Huntington.

Investigators say Gue and his girlfriend were spending the night at the park when they started going through parked cars looking for a lighter. That's when police say Mills attacked Gue with a steel pipe and knife.

The trial is taking place in Cabell County Circuit Court. It’s expected to last a couple of days.