Teen is cleared of husband murder

A teenager has been cleared of murdering his lover's estranged husband after a court heard the victim of his attack had a heart condition.

Judge Mr Justice Lloyd Jones directed a jury at Cardiff Crown Court to clear Dickson Ho, 18, from Canton, Cardiff, of murdering Gethin Owen, 47.

But Ho has admitted causing grievous bodily harm and will be sentenced later. He was remanded on bail.

The jury heard Ho punched and kicked Mr Owen, who was from St Athan.

Mr Owen had called at his former marital home to see his estranged wife.

He suffered a stroke and heart attack caused by multiple rib fractures and died in hospital eight days after the attack.

'Pre-existing'

But Ho was cleared after the judge ruled it could not be proved Mr Owen's injuries were a significant cause of his death.

Home Office pathologist Dr Stephen Leadbetter said Mr Owen had scarring on the heart which showed he had previously, unknowingly, suffered a mild heart attack.

The judge said: "He had a pre-existing medical condition and could have had a heart attack at any time.

"In light of this evidence I direct the jury to find this defendant not guilty or murder."

However, Ho, who had previously denied inflicting grievous bodily harm, changed his plea to guilty after being cleared of murder.

He was remanded on bail and will be sentenced later.

The court heard Ho was just 17 when he started going out with mother-of-three Tracey Owen, 35, last July.

He was accused of putting former RAF airman Mr Owen in a bearhug and punching and kicking him to the legs and ribs when he called around to see his estranged wife at their home in St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan.