Two cleared after catapult death

Mr Yankov was a first-year university student

Two human catapult operators have been cleared of manslaughter charges after a man was thrown to his death.

A judge directed the jury at Bristol Crown Court to return not guilty verdicts on two Somerset men, Richard Wicks, 33, and David Aitkenhead, 45.

The direction was given when it was decided there was insufficient evidence to convict them of unlawfully killing Kostadin Yankov, from Bulgaria.

Mr Yankov, 19, and a student at Oxford University, died in 2002.

Mr Wicks, of South Esplanade, Burnham-on-Sea, and Mr Aitkenhead, of Coultings Villa, Fiddington, near Bridgwater, designed, set up and operated the catapult at Middlemoor Water Park, near Bridgwater.

'Exceptional and unusual'

They had both denied manslaughter, and outside court said they were "totally relieved" at the outcome.

Mrs Justice Heather Hallett judge said: "The prosecution evidence simply does not come close enough to prove such a grave criminal offence."

She described the case as "exceptional and unusual" and said she hoped the family of Mr Yankov would understand.

Mr Yankov, a biochemistry undergraduate at Wadham College, who was known as Dino, visited the catapult with the Oxford Stunt Factory, of which he was a member.

The jury had heard how he appeared to go higher than most participants before clipping the edge of the safety net and hitting the ground.

Mr Yankov slipped in and out of consciousness and was airlifted to Bristol's Frenchay Hospital, where he was pronounced dead from multiple injuries.