Jailed drug dealer cleared of killing fan outside pub

Christopher Perry was unanimously found not guilty by a jury at Leeds Crown Court yesterday of the manslaughter of Robert Wilson, 44, from Leeds.

The eight man, four woman jury heard Mr Wilson died in hospital on June 23 last year 11 days after the incident outside the Skyrack public house in Headingley, Leeds in which he fractured his skull as he fell to the ground.

Perry, 25 of Shadwell Walk, Moortown, Leeds told the jury he struck Mr Wilson in self defence because: "I thought he was going to hit me."

He went to the pub after watching the United States match on screens at Headingley Cricket Ground. While queuing to enter, a friend had joined him in the line, causing a man behind them to complain.

He later saw the man in the same group as Mr Wilson in the beer garden and said there was a scuffle as they left during which his girlfriend Francesca Kelly had beer spilled on her.

Perry told the jury Mr Wilson then began shouting abuse at him and began to cross the road after them outside the pub.

He said Mr Wilson took up a fighter's stance. "He was definitely going to hit me."

After the punch, Perry was driven away. He said he was devastated when he later found out Mr Wilson had died. "Whatever happened that night because of my actions he lost his life."

The jury did not hear that Perry was later recalled to prison after his arrest last year because he was on licence from a four-year sentence imposed in 2008 for possession with intent to supply drugs.

After the trial ended Perry's girlfriend Francesca Kelly, 21, of North Park Grove, Leeds was jailed for 27 weeks and her friend Laura Lim, 23, of Gosney House, Bideford Avenue, Leeds, for 24 weeks after admitting acts intending to pervert the course of justice.

Jonathan Sharp, prosecuting, said Lim, who drove Perry away, and Kelly had agreed to lie to police pretending they did not know the identity of Perry and the friend with him that night.

Jailing them the Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier QC said the offence struck at the heart of the justice system interfering with the police investigation.