Jack Sidney Baker

Jack Sidney Baker died from head injuries following a fight.

A man was tried for his murder but found not guilty.

Jack Baker had been at the Ho-Ho Chinese Takeaway in Barrick Road, Stoughton with three other people.

The man that was tried had also been at the takeaway with his girlfriend. The man later left with his girlfriend, but was followed by two of Jack Baker's friend's and an altercation took place at the junction of Barrack Road and Stoughton Road where it was alleged that the man struck the two men, causing injury to their mouths.

After that, the man and his girlfriend continued on their way, however, the two men followed, having been joined by a third man and Jack Baker.

About 200 yards further on one of the four men left the group and went home but the remaining three followed the route taken by the man and his girlfriend along Grange Road.

The man was said to have then turned round, leaving his girlfriend, and to have gone up to the three men and said:

It was said then that the man ripped open his shirt and struck Jack Baker, causing him to fall and hit his head on the ground, causing injuries from which he died.

When the man made a statement, he admitted punching at least two members of the group, both of whom fell over, but said he had been acting in self-defenc, fearing the group would assault him.

The man was originally charged with murder but withdrawn and committed to Crown Court for manslaughter trial, with a trial booked for 8 January 1996, however, the jury failed to agree a verdict on 12 January 1996. A retrial was started on 29 April 1996 but th eman was found not guilty on 1 May 1996.

Jack Baker had been a widower with a son and daughter in their early 20s and had lived in Grange Park Estate, Guildford.