Man cleared of murdering his elderly stepfather

Dr Jason Waite was in a long-running legal battle with his stepfather over his mother's estate, a trial heard

A man has been found not guilty of murdering his elderly stepfather on the direction of the trial judge.

Dr Jason Waite, 54, had denied the murder of Peter Skilton, 87, but still faces a charge of manslaughter in relation to his death.

It is alleged Mr Skilton died from a head injury after he was pushed to the ground by Dr Waite on the drive of his cottage in Snitterby in Lincolnshire on 17 December.

During a trial at Lincoln Crown Court, Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight ruled there was insufficient evidence to prove Dr Waite, of Church Lane, Waddingham, either intended to kill or cause serious harm to Mr Skilton.

Jurors previously heard the cottage was let by Mr Skilton who had been left the property by his late second wife, Eileen Skilton, who died in 2018, aged 74.

The court was also told Dr Waite had been in a long-running legal battle with his stepfather over the estate, which was valued at more than £5m.

The incident on 17 December was witnessed by two new tenants who had moved into the Ivy House cottage in Snitterby the previous night, the court heard.

Earlier in the trial, the prosecution claimed Dr Waite grabbed Mr Skilton by the lapels of his jacket and then pushed him back along the gravel drive towards a concrete area.

The jury also heard evidence that it was possible Mr Skilton could have "lost his balance as he was being pushed backwards".

After reviewing the evidence, Judge Knight told jurors she had decided the prosecution could not prove the murder charge. Dr Waite also denies a charge of manslaughter.

The trial continues.

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