The jury in the Mitchelstown murder trial returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty of murder and guilty of manslaughter after six hours and 11 minutes of deliberation.

The autopsy showed the victim’s nose had been completely flattened and seven front teeth were knocked out and two of them ended up in his airways.

Prosecution counsel in the Mitchelstown murder trial told the jury there was ample evidence for a guilty verdict but the defence said the jury could not be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt as there was “doubt all over the place”.

The man on trial for murder shouted “I am the king of Mitchelstown”, a witness testified today, adding that his hand was left covered in blood after the accused shook hands with him that night.

The Mitchelstown man on trial for murder said he went home from the pub that night thinking that the deceased would call to his house the next mornin