A Banbury man has been acquitted of the manslaughter of his gay partner.

As reported in the late edition of yesterday's Oxford Mail, a jury at Oxford Crown Court acquitted 44-year-old David Wale unanimously.

Mr Wale had been accused of murdering Michael Keating, 47, at the bungalow they had shared for more than 20 years in Laurel Close.

Judge Julian Hall yesterday directed the jury to acquit Wale of murder, but left a manslaughter charge for their consideration.

Mr Keating, a media technician at North Oxfordshire College, in Banbury, was found slumped dead in the bath on May 6.

A pathologist found he had died from internal bleeding after receiving at least one severe blow to his belly.

Wale, who had been on bail throughout the trial, denied killing Mr Keating, and the defence suggested the fatal injuries could have been caused by their friend Manuel Seguera, 33, falling on Mr Keating while he was lying on the floor.

Outside court, Mr Wale's solicitor, Lee Reed, of Reed's Solicitors Oxford, said: "This has been a very tragic case which has distressed both families.

"In the circumstances, Mr Wale doesn't want to make any further comment."