RELATIVES of a father-of-four who died in a fight have told of their devastation after the trial of a teenager accused of his killing dramatically collapsed.
John Wilson, aged 46, suffered fatal head injuries in the scuffle with 18-year-old Bradley Lennon, which happened at a flat where Mr Wilson was staying on Richmond Hall Road, Waterthorpe, Sheffield, in January.
The teenager, of Aughton Drive, Wo
odthorpe, was on trial for manslaughter at Sheffield Crown Court, for allegedly throwing a "forceful", fatal punch during the brawl.
But Recorder of Sheffield Judge Alan Goldsack QC directed the jury return a not guilty verdict after concerns over the reliability of prosecution witnesses.
Mr Wilson's sister Jane Wilson, 43, of Woodthorpe, who was in court when the case was abandoned, said: "It was just a shambles. Myself and the rest of the family are very unhappy about it.
"It feels really unjust that nobody is being made to pay for what happened."
Sheffield Crown Court heard Lennon and Mr Wilson were friends but rowed and started fighting after both men had taken part in a three-in-a-bed sex session with Melissa Pearson, 25, at her flat next door.
Lennon denied manslaughter and his defence said Mr Wilson suffered fatal head injuries accidentally during the scuffle.
Witness Dean Moor, brother of Alan Moor, in whose flat the death occurred, changed his story in the witness box.
When interviewed by police, Mr Moor said he saw Lennon hit Mr Wilson in a "forceful, downward motion" - but in court he denied seeing the defendant throw a punch.
And Miss Pearson, 25 but whom the court heard had a reading age of 12 and suffered from anxiety and depression, also admitted she had lied to police.
She said she went round to Mr Moor's flat after the threesome to ask for her mobile phone, which she had earlier left there.
When interviewed by police, Miss Pearson claimed she saw the brawl and that Lennon put a knife to Mr Wilson's throat.
But in court, she admitted the allegation about the weapon was "a lie".
Miss Pearson also retracted another claim made to police that she saw Lennon "kicking" Mr Wilson.
Ann Perry, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "The witnesses didn't offer sufficient proof and the judge made his decision."
READ MOREYour letters.
Today's features.Latest sport.Main news index.The full article contains 404 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
