Mark Stobbe, the former political advisor who was found not guilty of killing his wife, is leaving his job as executive director of the Saskatchewan Craft Council.

Stobbe, who held senior positions in the NDP governments of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, was charged with second-degree murder in relation to the death of Beverly Rowbotham in October of 2000.

Following a jury trial in Winnipeg in March, Stobbe was found not guilty. Crown prosecutors said they would not appeal the outcome.

Stobbe was with the council, based in Saskatoon, for about five years. He took a leave while the charges were before the courts.

The council said Stobbe's departure was mutually agreed upon by both parties.

It was not immediately clear what his plans were for the future.

After the trial, Stobbe, 53, said he wanted to get on with his life and look after his two children.

Stobbe had worked as a senior adviser to former Saskatchewan premier Roy Romanow before moving to Manitoba in the spring of 2000 for a new job with the recently elected NDP government of Gary Doer.

The body of Rowbotham, 42, was found inside the family car in Selkirk, Man., on Oct. 25, 2000.