The case appeared to pit the word of the archetypal powerful white man against that of a poor black woman, in the form of his accuser, hotel maid and immigrant Nafissatou Diallo.
Prosecutors said they doubted Diallo's credibility. "This is the end of an unjust and terrible test. I'm relieved for my wife, my children, my friends and all those who've supported me," said Strauss-Kahn.