3.48pm

THREE men accused of the manslaughter of a Huddersfield man have been found guilty.

Caleb Coleman, 21, Wayne Lee, 22 and Jamie Nichols, 18, chased Francis Conway to his death on Canal Road, Bradford, on June 22 last year.

Mr Conway, a father-of-one, was hit by a recovery truck as he fled the group of men armed with a pickaxe handle.

The three, who all pleaded not guilty, have been bailed by the judge at Bradford Crown Court until sentencing.

THE jury in the trail of three men accused of the manslaughter of a Huddersfield man was today sent out to consider their verdicts.

Eight men and four women must decide if three Bradford men are guilty of the manslaughter of Berry Brow man Francis Conway.

It is alleged that Caleb Coleman, 21, Wayne Lee, 22 and Jamie Nichols, 18, chased Mr Conway to his death on Canal Road, Bradford, on June 22 last year.

Mr Conway, a father-of-one, was hit by a recovery truck as he allegedly fled a group of men armed with a pickaxe handle.

The incident is said to have occurred after the three defendants saw Mr Conway, known as Frank, setting fire to a post box.

Earlier counsel for the defendants each made their closing speeches, urging the jury to try the defendants separately.

Stephen Wood, for Coleman, said: “If you only think that he was there [when the incident happened] then the verdict you must reach must be one of not guilty of manslaughter.”

Peter Moulson, for Lee, said: “There is some doubt about the presence of Mr Lee’s vehicle at the exact scene that night.

“There is the possibility that the driver remained in the vehicle, or may have briefly got out and got back in again.

“I respectfully submit that you cannot be sure that Wayne Lee is a member of that chasing pack.”

Tahir Khan, for Nichols, added: “It is not uncommon for a 17 or 18-year-old to pass the time chilling and smoking cannabis; he was entirely upfront during police interviews, he needn’t have been but he was.

“From the moment he became involved with his arrest, he has insisted that he was not present and that he was not involved.”

The judge in the case later summed up the evidence to the jury and gave them legal directions.

They were sent out to consider their case this morning.