A man has been cleared of the murder of another man who died after he was hit over the head with a baseball bat during a fight in Swords.
Jooda Akanbi from Applewood in Swords admitted hitting the other man but claimed he was acting in self defence.
Jooda Akanbi, a father of four from Nigeria, became emotional and hugged his wife after the jury returned with a verdict of NOT guilty.
He was accused of murdering fellow countryman Taiwo Jamani after a fight between the two broke out on Main St in Swords just before lunchtime on October 10th 2013.
Eye witnesses told the court they saw the two men arguing and beating each other with baseball bats in what was described by one as “like something from Star Wars”.
Several people said they saw Mr. Akanbi raise his bat before delivering a downward blow on the head of Mr. Jamani who died in hospital a few weeks later.
Gardai were told there was bad blood between the two men but Mr. Akanbi insisted he acted in self defence.
The jurors were told they could find him guilty of manslaughter if they didn’t feel he meant to kill Mr. Jamani but they returned this afternoon and cleared him of murder after seven hours of deliberations.
