A man has been acquitted of killing a 'peacemaker' who died after being punched when he intervened to stop a fight almost six years ago. 

Michael Oliver, was found not guilty of the manslaughter of David Joslin at Southwark Crown Court on Friday (June 27) following a two-week trial. 

Oliver, 33, of Poundfield Road, Loughton, was the only person to be prosecuted in relation to Mr Joslin's death in 2009.  

The 23-year-old had left a Christmas work party and was walking alone in Old Church Road when he passed an altercation between two groups outside Strictly Silver jewellers.   

He intervened to try and break up the fight after seeing Stefan Hiscott lying unconscious on the ground.  

Mr Joslin was punched unconscious and hit his head on the pavement.  

He never regained consciousness and died a week later at Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone. 

At the start of the trial on June 16, the court heard how the fight which led to David's death was started over a row about chips being thrown by Oliver's brother, Barry.  

Oliver had attended a Christmas party with friends before leaving the Obelisk bar with his brother and his girlfriend Zoe Fowler. 

The trio became embroiled in a row with another group after Barry Oliver threw chips in the air before Mr Joslin's fatal intervention.    

Michael Oliver denied throwing the punch and was found not guilty by a jury on Friday.   

Today David's father, Phil Joslin, of Kimberley Road in Chingford, told the Guardian it was time for his wife, Margaret, their son Andrew and daughter Lauren "to move on".  

He said: "We will not appeal the decision; we have to move on with our lives.  

"We've become used to the fact that without solid CCTV evidence, witness testimony is not enough.  

"I have very little faith in the British justice system.  

"It is time to re-build our lives, there is nothing more for us to do unless anyone with more evidence comes forward.  

"I have no complaints about the police, they put a lot of hours into this case and worked incredibly hard to bring about this prosecution.   

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: David Joslin

David intervened to stop the fight after leaving his Christmas work party 

"Five years is a long time for people to forget and to get to court.  

"The person who killed David is still out there on the streets, yet we can't convince councillors, our MP, or the police to ensure Chingford Mount has full CCTV coverage.  

"This is a reality for all families and we hope it never happens again."      

Investigating officer Nigel Shuttleworth, added: "Oliver was found not guilty on Friday after a brief deliberation by the jury.   

"A lot of work has gone into the investigation since Mr Joslin's death and further work will continue in regard to matters surrounding the case." 

An inquest into David's death in 2013 revealed failings by Whipps Cross University Hospital in Leytonstone, which initially wrongly treated Mr Joslin as a drunk before transferring him to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Michael Oliver was acquitted of manslaughter

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

He was described by his family as "fun-loving"and a keen cricketer who supported Arsenal FC and was a former pupil at Trinity Catholic High School in Woodford Green