This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-34089176
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Daniel Schofield acquitted of Lizard crossbow murder | Daniel Schofield acquitted of Lizard crossbow murder |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A man accused of killing his brother-in-law with a crossbow has been acquitted of murder and manslaughter by a jury. | A man accused of killing his brother-in-law with a crossbow has been acquitted of murder and manslaughter by a jury. |
| Daniel Schofield, 29, denied the charges after Roy Hanson, 50, died in October last year. | Daniel Schofield, 29, denied the charges after Roy Hanson, 50, died in October last year. |
| During the week-long trial at Truro Crown Court, Mr Schofield maintained his death was an accident. | |
| Police were called to a property in Trevallack, outside St Keverne, near Helston, Cornwall, in October. | Police were called to a property in Trevallack, outside St Keverne, near Helston, Cornwall, in October. |
| Mr Hanson was treated at the property when he was found by paramedics, who then called police. | Mr Hanson was treated at the property when he was found by paramedics, who then called police. |
| Mr Hanson, a plumber from St Keverne, was married to Mr Schofield's sister Julia Hanson. | Mr Hanson, a plumber from St Keverne, was married to Mr Schofield's sister Julia Hanson. |
| The court heard he was violent towards her and she left him, staying with Mr Schofield. | The court heard he was violent towards her and she left him, staying with Mr Schofield. |
| But Mr Hanson arrived at Mr Schofield's farm on the Lizard on 25 October last year, the court heard. | But Mr Hanson arrived at Mr Schofield's farm on the Lizard on 25 October last year, the court heard. |
| The trial heard he was shot with the crossbow while attacking Mrs Hanson. | The trial heard he was shot with the crossbow while attacking Mrs Hanson. |
| Mr Schofield told the court he was hoping Mr Hanson would feel threatened by the weapon and leave. | Mr Schofield told the court he was hoping Mr Hanson would feel threatened by the weapon and leave. |
| Questioned by his defence counsel, Richard Smith QC, Mr Schofield said he had no thoughts of firing the crossbow when he loaded it. | Questioned by his defence counsel, Richard Smith QC, Mr Schofield said he had no thoughts of firing the crossbow when he loaded it. |
| It was discharged and the bolt hit Mr Hanson in the chest, passing straight through his heart and a major blood vessel before exiting through his back. | |
| They were also shown the blood-soaked bolt and the crossbow that fired it. | |
| It took the jury nearly five hours to find Mr Schofield not guilty of the charges. | It took the jury nearly five hours to find Mr Schofield not guilty of the charges. |