A TEENAGER has been found not guilty of manslaughter after punching a cyclist, who suffered a bleed to the brain and later died of his injuries.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named due to his age, was cleared by jurors by a majority verdict on Thursday afternoon after about a day of deliberation.
During the Royal Court trial, the jury was told that the teenager punched Roy Bester during an altercation in St Helier.
Mr Bester had visited a corner shop and was cycling away when he got into an argument with the defendant.
Mr Bester threw the first punch, before the defendant punched him in the face – with Crown Advocate Lauren Hallam, prosecuting, arguing that the force used was not reasonable.
The punch caused multiple facial fractures and a bleed to the brain, which eventually killed Mr Bester.
In a statement describing the incident, the teenager said: “There was a cyclist in front of me. He was travelling incredibly slowly on his bike.
“I gave him a honk. He did not appear to hear this so I honked again.”
He said Mr Bester gave him the middle finger and said something. Though the defendant could not hear clearly, he said “it sounded aggressive”.
The defendant said he then got out of the car and Mr Bester asked if he wanted to fight.
“I repeatedly asked him to move away from me,” the teenager said.
“He grabbed my arm as if he wanted to grab hold of me.
“I was scared of him and scared of the situation and what could happen.”
The defendant then described how Mr Bester punched him in the face and asked him if he thought he could take him on in a fight.
“He continued to walk towards me and he was right in my face again,” the youth said.
The defendant described punching Mr Bester and seeing him fall to the ground.
