POLICE had to keep two groups of people apart at York Crown Court this afternoon when a father was acquitted of killing his near neighbour.
The widow of Andy Campbell, broke down in tears when Thomas Edward Richardson, 43, was acquitted of murder and manslaughter.
She and members of her family and supporters waited outside the court building while Mr Richardson was inside.
The jury heard that Mr Richardson fatally stabbed Mr Campbell through the doorway of his Selby home with a long kitchen knife in a dispute sparked by children's behaviour.
They decided he had acted in self defence because at the time Mr Campbell's stepson James Collins and other men were trying to force Mr Richardson's door open in Primrose Grove, Selby.
They also heard that, according to Mr Collins, Mr Campbell was shouldering the door and prevented it from closing at one point.
Police sat in the public gallery when the verdict was announced.
Updated: 16:03 Thursday, February 07, 2002
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