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Caridad Coste and Rafael Castillo were accused of building illegal partitions that trapped firefighters Curtis Meyran and John Bellew as they battled a fire in the defendants' Bronx apartment building.

The widows of the firemen were present in courtroom and cried when the verdicts were read Friday.

"I was just absolutely shocked. I was sick to my stomach," said Curtis Meyran's widow. "I could not believe that they found them totally innocent on all counts. Unreasonable doubt? There was no doubt they put the walls, there was no doubt that they started the fire, where was the doubt? I don't understand."

"My heart is with the families of the dead firemen," said a prosecuting attorney. "Every time I see them, I feel so bad because the fire department failed them miserably."

Outside, Coste was overcome with emotion.

"I'm the happiest woman alive," she said through a translator.

Castillo maintained his innocence, and said city officials were to blame for the faulty conditions that led to the firemen's deaths. Defense attorneys argued that Meyran and Bellew might have been saved by safety ropes, which the FDNY had stopped issuing to firefighters by 2005.

"The only guilty one was the city," said Castillo through a translator.

Safety ropes were reissued after the fire.

Firefighters' union President Steve Cassidy said in a statement, "It sends a message that if the illegal actions you are profiting from kill a firefighter, you are likely to get off with only a slap on the wrist."

Of the four firefighters who survived the 50-feet jump from the burning Bronx building, Eugene Stolowski, Jeff Cool and Brendan Cawley were at the verdict reading but would not reveal their reactions on camera.

Vinnie Scala, who represented Castillo, said, "There were no winners in this case. Two of New York City's bravest were killed on January 23, 2005, and that was a tragedy."

The jury reached its verdict on Wednesday but the judge ordered the verdict to be sealed until Friday, to not influence a second jury that is currently deliberating on the fate of the building's landlord and owner.

The second jury deliberated until the end of the day Friday, and will resume deliberations next week. The judge ruled Friday that they would not be sequestered.

The remaining two defendants face similar charges, including manslaughter.