Man not guilty of manslaughter after 'punch' death

A man who was accused of killing another man in an altercation outside a train station has been found not guilty of manslaughter.

John Donovan, 60, died in hospital three weeks after he was punched at Reading station on 20 July 2024, police said.

He fell backwards and died from a head injury, detectives added.

Ryan Basden, 27, of no fixed address, was previously accused of murder but the charge was reduced to manslaughter at a trial at Reading Crown Court.

Police found Mr Donovan injured shortly after 20:40 BST.

He was treated for a head injury at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford but died on 11 August.

Mr Basden was arrested the day after the alleged attack and was later charged with murder.

In a previous statement, Mr Donovan's family said they were "devastated" by the loss of a "much-loved brother, father, grandfather, uncle and brother-in-law".

The family added: "John had a huge circle of friends due to his varied interests, notwithstanding all his friends from his childhood and school days in Reading."

Mr Basden was acquitted of manslaughter following a 10-day trial.

You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook or X (Twitter).