A MAN accused of murder will now be tried on a lesser charge.
Robin Jacques, 41, was accused of murdering 44-year-old Barry Thompson on May 27.
But at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday, prosecutors dropped the murder charge and will proceed with a manslaughter allegation.
Mr Thompson, a father-of-two from Consett, County Durham, was found collapsed on a settee at a house in Burnopfield, near Stanley.
He was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham, with head injuries and transferred to a specialist unit at Newcastle General Hospital, but died.
Mr Jacques, of Park View, Burnopfield, pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter charge during yesterday's hearing and will be tried by a jury on January 3.
He was remanded in custody, and is planning to apply for bail.
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