Pilot cleared over gyrocopter death (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Pilot cleared over gyrocopter death

4:30pm Thursday 18th March 2010 in Cotswolds

PILOT Bryan Griffiths has been cleared of manslaughter following the death of a Warwickshire hunt supporter who was struck by the blades of a gyrocopter.

Griffiths, 55, of Bedworth, was found not guilty by a jury at Birmingham Crown Court after he denied killing 48-year-old Trevor Morse of Alderminster near Shipston.

The two-week trial heard that Mr Morse’s head was cleaved “from top to bottom” by a gyrocopter blade at Long Marston airfield on March 9 last year as he tried to stop Griffiths from taking off.

Griffiths, who had been monitoring the hunt from the air, had landed at the airfield to refuel.

Following the verdict, Detective Chief Inspector Peter Hill of Warwickshire Police, said: “This case had to be heard. The jury has listened to all the evidence and I respect the verdict they have returned.

“My thoughts are with Trevor's partner, Caroline, and the rest of his family at this time. I hope that now that the trial is over they will be able to come to terms with their loss and start rebuilding their lives without him.”

Through a police statement, Caroline Morse, Mr Morse's partner of 23 years, said: “I am absolutely devastated by this result. I am neither pro nor anti hunt. It has been a long 12 months since Trevor's tragic death and we are still coming to terms with our loss. The family is very grateful for the support we have received from Warwickshire Police throughout this investigation and trial.”