Not guilty verdict on West Bromwich raid death

A man from West Bromwich has been found not guilty of killing a pensioner who died of a heart attack after a burglary at his home.

Gordon Whitehouse was cleared by a jury after the judge directed it could not be proven the raid caused his death.

Whitehouse, aged 47, denied the manslaughter of 69-year old David Peniket and was cleared at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Mr Peniket died after a struggle with an intruder at his Bedford Road home in Hateley Heath last May.

Pathologist Dr Nicholas Hunt told the jury that Mr Peniket suffered from heart disease and could have had a cardiac arrest at any time.

Mr Justice Alistair MacDuff said it could not be proven beyond reasonable doubt the burglary caused his death.

Whitehouse still faces charges of aggravated burglary and possessing an imitation firearm, which he denies.

Whitehouse, of Denbigh Drive, denies having burgled Mr Peniket's nearby home. The trial continues.