A teenager has been cleared of killing a dad-of-four who died after he was punched when he tried to stop a man from being assaulted.
Philip James Long was out celebrating his wedding anniversary with his wife in Wrexham when he stepped in and acted as a peacemaker as a group of young people were fighting.
The 36-year-old had tried to stop a woman from hitting a man when he was punched and hit his head on the floor, North Wales Live reports.
He died from his injuries.
Matthew Curtis, 18, from Gwersyllt, was cleared of Mr Long's manslaughter at Mold Crown Court on Thursday.
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He wept with relief and shook in the dock when the not guilty verdict was returned.
He had claimed he feared Mr Long was about to assault his friend.
Judge Rhys Rowlands said the deceased's family had acted with dignity and forbearance during the trial and added: "Our thoughts are with them."
The jury heard how Mr Long was on a surprise night out with his wife for their second wedding anniversary.
He was walking to get a taxi in with his wife Hayley, in the early hours of Sunday, August 4, 2018.
They passed a group of young people and Mr Long was hit in the face by Curtis, after intervening to stop a woman from hitting a man, the prosecution said.
Mr Long fell backwards, hit his head on the floor and died of catastrophic injuries two days later at the Royal Stoke University Hospital – the actual day of his wedding anniversary.
A post-mortem examination found Mr Long suffered an extensive fracture to his skull, a brain bleed and there was evidence of a forceful punch to his left eye, the court heard.
Curtis had denied manslaughter.
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