Andover man cleared of murder and manslaughter of Steven Griffiths (From Andover Advertiser)

Andover man cleared of murder and manslaughter of Steven Griffiths

3:47pm Tuesday 9th March 2010

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ACCUSED Andover man Roberto Ranieri wept in the dock at Winchester Crown Court as he was cleared of all charges.

Mr Ranieri, aged 46, had been facing murder and manslaughter charges following the death of Steven Griffiths, aged 38, after a dispute at Mr Ranieri’s house in King George Road in Andover on 21 August last year.

Mr Griffith’s died as a result of a wound to the heart caused by Mr Ranieri’s razor sharp foot-long Gurkha knife.

When the jury, made up eight men and four women delivered its unanimous verdict after less than two hours of deliberation, there were cries of ‘joking’ from the public gallery.

But the judge, the honourable Mr Justice Sweeney, said it was no joke but justice in action.

“You have done your duty in a very difficult case,” he said.

“A man has needlessly and tragically died – but not on this occasion as a result of a crime.”

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