A KILLER wept in the dock as a jury cleared him of murdering a friend in a street fight after he was called "a divvy",

Craig Conway stabbed Simon Bennett in the heart when they met for what was said to have been an arranged clash in May.

The prosecution alleged that Conway, 30, took a knife to the scene because he feared a beating from the renowned fighter.

Conway told Teesside Crown Court he found something on the ground as they tussled, and swung a punch with it in his hand.

Mr Bennett, 28, suffered a single stab wound to the heart and died of massive blood loss within an hour of the incident.

Conway, of Epworth Green, Middlesbrough, admitted manslaughter, but denied murder and has been on trial for two weeks.

The jury deliberated for three-and-a-half hours before returning its verdict yesterday afternoon.

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, told a tearful Conway that he will sentence him on Monday.

The two men - who had been friends for years - are said to have argued about rumours in their neighbourhood on the day of the killing.

The prosecution said they arranged to meet for a fight on May 8 and clashed at The Greenway, Thorntree, Middlesbrough.

Conway said he had gone to meet Mr Bennett, a barber and dad-of-one, but expected no more than a row and making up.

He told the jury during his evidence that he thought they would go for "a sesh" after the disagreement had been resolved.

He said Mr Bennett came charging towards him with his fists up, but he held out his arms and said: "I don't want to fight."

He told the jury: "I said It's over nothing, I don't want to fight you, we are mates', but he kept running towards me.

"He said 'Well you are. I had no choice but to put my hands up . . .

"He was a good fighter. Once he started, there was no stopping him. He caught me on the side of the head. It sent me dizzy.

"It is my own fault for going there, but I didn't go there to murder him. I have killed him. It's me who done it."

Conway said he dropped whatever he used and fled to scene on a motorbike. No knife or any other object was found.

Some of Mr Bennett's family and friends began to cry and left the public gallery after the verdict was announced.

In a statement outside court, they said they were disappointed with the verdict and told of their distress.

It said: "We have some sort of justice for Simon and we can at least try to get some sort of closure. He can rest in peace.

"This has been the most difficult and distressing few months of our lives. We would like to thank all of our friends and family who have supported us."