A MAN accused of killing Christopher Lemonius in a Blackbird Leys alleyway has been cleared of murder.

Jason Needham, of Kingsland Court, Luton, had always denied playing any part in the killing at Jourdain Road on June 1 last year.

The 27-year old bowed his head low as jurors returned a unanimous verdict this afternoon after deliberating for 14 hours and five minutes.

Presiding Judge Ian Pringle QC thanked the jury panel for their dedication to the case and gave out commendations to a number of police officers involved in the investigation which saw four convicted of murder last month.

During the trial prosecutors had alleged that Mr Needham was part of a gang that carried out a 'savage' attack on Mr Lemonius leaving him for dead in an alleyway.

Mr Needham took to the witness box to profess his innocence during the trial which began in October.

He told jurors that he had never been at the alleyway and that minutes before the killing took place he had fled the scene 'in panic' from unidentified assailants.

Four men were given life sentences for Mr Lemonius' murder last month and a fifth jailed for manslaughter.

READ AGAIN: The men jailed for the killing of Chris Lemonius 

Four others were convicted of perverting the course of justice and of trying to cover up the killing.