The Crown has withdrawn a murder charge against a Nova Scotia teen accused of killing his mother.

John “Jack” Buckley was charged with second-degree murder in the death of 57-year-old Victoria Brauns-Buckley.

Brauns-Buckley’s body was found in her Borgels Point Road home in Chester Basin on March 2.

Her death was ruled a homicide and her then 18-year-old son, whom neighbours say lived with her, was arrested in connection with her murder on March 12.

Buckely, now 19, had been held in jail at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Dartmouth since his arrest, but he walked out of the Bridgewater courthouse a free man Tuesday afternoon.

"He had learned on Saturday, so he's had a couple days to absorb it, but he's quite relieved," says defence lawyer Patrick MacEwen. "I think it's important it's not forgotten this young man lost his mother, so it's not a happy day, but he is very relieved."

According to the Crown, Buckley was released based on the probability of conviction.

"The Crown's consideration of whether the likelihood of conviction exists is a continuing process and, at this point, the determination was made that there is no likelihood of a conviction, so we're obligated to withdraw the charge," says Crown attorney Lloyd Tancock.

Buckley has maintained his innocence since he was arrested nine months ago.

"There's no way that Jack did this," says friend, Nicole Kaizer. "I've known Jack my entire life and he's not the guy that they made him out to be and it's completely ridiculous that they held him for so long just to let him go."

Buckley made no comment in court today. He left the courthouse and got into the back of a truck that had been waiting for him outside.

As for the investigation into the woman’s murder, police say it’s back to square one.

“Well, we basically have an unsolved homicide, so our major crime investigators will be continuing, as in any active investigation, to do police work,” says RCMP Cpl. Scott MacRae.

Police won’t say if Buckley is still considered a suspect.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Jacqueline Foster