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| Serving soldier avoids jail term | Serving soldier avoids jail term |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A soldier has avoided jail because of "his service to his country". | A soldier has avoided jail because of "his service to his country". |
| Daniel Gooda, 26, of the Household Cavalry, was convicted of affray for his part in a fight in Norwich in which a man suffered fatal injuries. | Daniel Gooda, 26, of the Household Cavalry, was convicted of affray for his part in a fight in Norwich in which a man suffered fatal injuries. |
| But the judge suspended his 28-week jail term for 12 months and Gooda is due to fly to Afghanistan next week. | But the judge suspended his 28-week jail term for 12 months and Gooda is due to fly to Afghanistan next week. |
| Trooper Gooda, 26, was cleared of the manslaughter of Timothy Moore, who died from head injuries six days after the fight outside a bar. | Trooper Gooda, 26, was cleared of the manslaughter of Timothy Moore, who died from head injuries six days after the fight outside a bar. |
| Gooda had told Norwich Crown Court he punched 30-year-old Mr Moore to protect a friend. The affray charge involved a club doorman. | Gooda had told Norwich Crown Court he punched 30-year-old Mr Moore to protect a friend. The affray charge involved a club doorman. |
| Judge Anthony Leonard, QC, told Gooda his sentence had been suspended "because of the exceptional nature of the service he has given his country". | Judge Anthony Leonard, QC, told Gooda his sentence had been suspended "because of the exceptional nature of the service he has given his country". |
| Gooda, who comes from Norfolk and is based at Combermere Barracks, Windsor, had denied manslaughter, affray and assaulting a police officer during the incident in March at the Sing Sing bar on Prince of Wales Road. | Gooda, who comes from Norfolk and is based at Combermere Barracks, Windsor, had denied manslaughter, affray and assaulting a police officer during the incident in March at the Sing Sing bar on Prince of Wales Road. |
| A Ministry of Defence spokesman said that as Gooda's sentence had been suspended, he was able to remain in the Army. |