TWO men accused of taking part in a brawl involving the killer of Jayden Parkinson have been acquitted.

Michael Bland, 22, of Sinodun Road, Didcot, and Damian Longhurst, 23, of Queen Road, Botley, both faced one count of affray following a fight at Didcot railway station.

A jury in Oxford Crown Court heard that the incident started when an argument broke out between Ben Blakeley, 23, of Christchurch Road, Reading, and Haydn Cannon, 23, of Great Western Drive, Didcot.

They were travelling with friends from Paddington to Oxford on October 22, 2013, and have both previously admitted affray.

The jury was told Blakeley had since been jailed for the murder of his former girlfriend.


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John Stone, prosecuting, said Mr Bland and Mr Longhurst had gone to the station with the knowledge there was going to be a fight.

But the two defendants said they had gone there to meet their friends and had acted in self defence.

Mr Bland told the court he had received a call from Blakeley to say it was “kicking off” on the train.

He said Cannon had got off the train “screaming, effing and blinding” and he had then grappled with Mr Longhurst.

Mr Longhurst said Cannon had shoved him and he believed he was going to be hit and so retaliated.

The jury found in favour of Mr Bland on Thursday but had not been able to reach a verdict regarding Mr Longhurst by the end of the day.

The prosecution offered no further evidence and Recorder John Brooke-Smith entered a not guilty verdict on behalf of Mr Longhurst and discharged him.