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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Teen is cleared of husband murder | Teen is cleared of husband murder |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A teenager has been cleared of murdering his lover's estranged husband after a court heard the victim of his attack had a heart condition. | A teenager has been cleared of murdering his lover's estranged husband after a court heard the victim of his attack had a heart condition. |
| Judge Mr Justice Lloyd Jones directed a jury at Cardiff Crown Court to clear Dickson Ho, 18, from Canton, Cardiff, of murder. | Judge Mr Justice Lloyd Jones directed a jury at Cardiff Crown Court to clear Dickson Ho, 18, from Canton, Cardiff, of murder. |
| But Ho has admitted causing grievous bodily harm and will be sentenced later. He was remanded on bail. | But Ho has admitted causing grievous bodily harm and will be sentenced later. He was remanded on bail. |
| The jury heard Ho punched and kicked Gethin Owen. | The jury heard Ho punched and kicked Gethin Owen. |
| Mr Owen had called at his former marital home to see his estranged wife. | Mr Owen had called at his former marital home to see his estranged wife. |
| He suffered a stroke and heart attack caused by multiple rib fractures and died in hospital eight days after the attack. | He suffered a stroke and heart attack caused by multiple rib fractures and died in hospital eight days after the attack. |
| 'Pre-existing' | 'Pre-existing' |
| But Ho was cleared after the judge ruled it could not be proved Mr Owen's injuries were a significant cause of his death. | But Ho was cleared after the judge ruled it could not be proved Mr Owen's injuries were a significant cause of his death. |
| Home Office pathologist Dr Stephen Leadbetter said Mr Owen had scarring on the heart which showed he had previously, unknowingly, suffered a mild heart attack. | Home Office pathologist Dr Stephen Leadbetter said Mr Owen had scarring on the heart which showed he had previously, unknowingly, suffered a mild heart attack. |
| The judge said: "He had a pre-existing medical condition and could have had a heart attack at any time. | The judge said: "He had a pre-existing medical condition and could have had a heart attack at any time. |
| "In light of this evidence I direct the jury to find this defendant not guilty or murder." | "In light of this evidence I direct the jury to find this defendant not guilty or murder." |
| However, Ho, who had previously denied inflicting grievous bodily harm, changed his plea to guilty after being cleared of murder. | |
| He was remanded on bail and will be sentenced later. | He was remanded on bail and will be sentenced later. |
| The court heard Ho was just 17 when he started going out with mother-of-three Tracey Owen, 35, last July. | The court heard Ho was just 17 when he started going out with mother-of-three Tracey Owen, 35, last July. |
| He was accused of putting former RAF airman Mr Owen in a bearhug and punching and kicking him to the legs and ribs when he called around to see his estranged wife at their home in St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan. | He was accused of putting former RAF airman Mr Owen in a bearhug and punching and kicking him to the legs and ribs when he called around to see his estranged wife at their home in St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan. |