The man accused of killing Mitcham character ‘Meta

The man accused of killing Mitcham character ‘Metal Mickey’ has walked free from court after he insisted he had not touched his best friend.

Alan Condon, 32, was said to have floored Michael Brown with a single punch then watched a video with his girlfriend as he lay dying.

But Condon insisted that Mr Brown, 47, had earlier been attacked by a gang of black youths and he had no idea the victim was fatally injured.

After four hours deliberation the jury accepted Condon’s account and cleared him of manslaughter.

Speaking minutes after the verdict Condon said: ‘I am very happy.

Justice has prevailed.

‘He was my best friend.

I would never hurt my best friend and I didn’t.

‘

The court heard Mr Brown earned his name because local folk wrongly thought he had a metal plate in his head.

The incident happened when he visited Condon and his girlfriend Lisa Lavender at her flat in Chart House, Saddlers Close in the night of July 20 last year.

Prosecutor Mr Jonathan Laidlaw claimed Condon punched Mr Brown because he thought he was taking advantage by coming to the flat.

The victim suffered fatal head injuries when his head hit the concrete floor.

Miss Lavender’s cousin, Katrina Davenport who was also there claimed Condon said: ‘He deserved it,’ throwing the punch.

She added when Miss Lavender saw the head wound she said: ‘It’s only a scratch.

‘

Mr Brown spent the night on the floor of the flat and was not taken to hospital until the following morning.

He died that night after suffering a fractured skull and brain damage.

Condon lives lived with his girlfriend at her home at (40) Chart House, Saddlers Close.

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