Geologist acquitted in Swiss court of causing earthquakes

In Switzerland, a Basel criminal court acquitted geologist Markus Haering who stood accused of causing earthquakes while working on the creation of a geothermal power plant. The court said it acquitted him because he had not deliberately damaged properties or acted carelessly. Haering said he was relieved by the verdict and Basel prosecutor Thomas Hug indicated that he was unlikely to appeal the ruling. The project, now halted, was put on hold in 2006 after a series of tremors were triggered, including one of 3.4 magnitude. Geopower Basel has paid some $9 million in compensation for cracked walls and other damage on properties near the experiment.