SHATTERED John Campbell's quest for answers about his wife's death was continuing today after the man accused of murdering her was cleared.

The heartbroken husband looked "shellshocked" as the judge revealed he had cleared Paul Ward of any involvement in Jean's Campbell's murder.

He was comforted by relatives, including Jean's sister Edwina O'Farrell, as the judgement was delivered at Glasgow High Court yesterday.

As reported in late editions of yesterday's Evening Times, Ward, who had been accused of killing Jean by battering her with a dog lead, was dramatically cleared.

Judge Lord Matthews acquitted 21-year-old Ward after hearing an examination of facts into her murder.

Ward, who is suffering from a psychotic illness, was due to stand trial, but he was deemed unfit to do so.

He denied murdering Jean.

Lord Matthews said that the Crown case did not convince him beyond reasonable doubt that Ward was Jean's assailant.

He added: "I appreciate that what I have said might not find favour with the family and friends of Mrs Campbell.

"In this day and age what I have to say may not be the final word on the matter.

"No doubt the matter can be revisited if compelling new evidence emerges. However, I can only proceed on the evidence presented to me."

Ward was last night being examined at the State Hospital and appropriate medical treatment was being organised for him.

Defence QC Donald Findlay said: " It is clear this young man is likely to require treatment for a considerable period of time

While on remand in Barlinnie Prison in August last year Ward told his mother during a phone conversation: "What happened to that woman might have been me."

He went on: "I've been hearing stuff in my head. I think I might have hit her once."

But, Lord Matthews said he discounted this alleged confession because the taped conversation happened four days after Ward was diagnosed as having a psychotic illness.

It was also revealed in court that the prosecution dismissed any suggestion of a sexual motive for the murder.

But the defence QC claimed that given Jean's pyjama bottoms had been removed, and she had an unexplained injury, the attack could have been sexually motivated.

The devastated Campbell family left court without making any comment yesterday lunchtime.

Jean's battered, and half-naked, body was discovered in Cranhill Park by her husband of 35 years, at around 7.40am on December 14 2013.

During the court hearing, prosecutors alleged that Ward attacked Jean in the park, the night before, with a dog lead.

Jean, who was 4ft 11in tall and weighed six stones, was repeatedly beaten with the dog lead and suffered 11 broken ribs, a fractured leg, bruising to her head and neck and a brain injury.

John, 56, came home from nightshift to find all the lights on and no-one at home.

He went looking for her and discovered her body lying in the park.

She was wearing a pyjama top and a black coat, her pyjama bottoms and a pair of flip flops were lying nearby.

A massive murder hunt was launched to try to find her killer, including a Crimewatch appeal which was broadcast to millions.

Jean was last seen alive on footage from a CCTV camera taken at 10.30pm.

She and her German Shepherd dog Kai were walking along Bellrock Street towards Cranhill Park.

Prosecutors and detectives believe she met her killer in the park and was attacked around 11pm.

The prosecution claimed Ward killed Jean because he was an animal lover and hated the way she treated six-month-old Kai.

Lord Matthews said: "A great many hours of work were put into this case by dedicated policemen, including authorised surveillance of the accused's home.

"But the result of all of it, is in my opinion at least, a weak Crown case.

"There was proof of an a possible, albeit tenuous motive.

"The accused potentially had the opportunity.

"There are a number of suspicious circumstances in this case and the accused might have committed the acts referred to in the indictment, but that is not the test."

Suspicion first fell on Ward after inquiries revealed that he was out walking that night around the time Jean is believed to have been attacked.

Neighbour Yvonne Leyden, 54, whose living room window faced on to Cranhill Park told of hearing screams and a dog barking around 11pm.

Minutes later she said she opened the door to Ward, who was a friend of her son Thomas Leyden, 24.

Ward had been at the Leyden home earlier that night, then went home where he had spaghetti bolognaise and a glass of wine, before returning.

Ward was said to be out of breath, but the court heard this was not unusual as he ran everywhere.

CCTV footage played in court showed Ward walking towards the communal entrance to number 5 Crowlin Crescent, where the Leyden's lived at 11.06pm.

But, crucially there was no footage to show where Ward had come from.

He could have walked through the park and encountered Jean, but equally he could have gone a number of other ways to get to Crowlin Crescent, the judge said.

No forensic evidence linked Ward to the attack.

Jean had bravely fought for her life against her attacker and had defensive injuries to her hands and arms.

But Ward had no signs of cuts or scratches on him.

After Jean's death, rumours began to link Ward to the killing, but he denied having anything to do with it.

However, the court did hear Jean sometimes shouted at and hit her dog, which was too powerful for her to control.

Advocate depute Alex Prentice QC said: "Mr Ward said words to the effect: 'I hate her. 'She is always hitting the dog. How would she like it if I did that to her.'"