A teenage drug dealer has been found not guilty of murdering Lee Turner.

Treyvon Ejiogu, of Empress Avenue, London, was cleared by the jury on January 18.

The 18-year-old had already pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article and two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs at an earlier hearing and was given a suspended sentence, meaning he will shortly be released.

Mr Turner, 33, from Park North, died in October 2021 after sustaining a single stab wound to his chest despite the best efforts of members of the public to save him.

DCI Phil Walker said: “The defendant in this case admitted to carrying a knife for his own protection - there can never be any justification for carrying a knife or weapon of any kind.

“If you carry a knife, you are putting yourself in danger of using it yourself, or it being used against you.

“I would like to pay tribute to Lee’s loved ones at this time – it has not been an easy process for them to listen to details of his last moments in court but they have dealt with this with the utmost dignity.”

The verdict follows a hung jury at the original trial last April.

Ejiogu, who was 17 at the time of the incident was given a two year suspended sentence for the other offences, with an operational period of two years.

The drugs and knife will be forfeited and destroyed.

During his suspended sentence, Ejiogu must complete 35 rehabilitation activity days, and has a condition of residence for six months.

A spokesperson from Lee Turner's family said: "We'd like to thank Swindon police for all they have done, they went above and beyond for Lee and us.

"The family is devastated by the outcome because we had to walk away from court with nothing while Treyvon Ejiogu gets to walk away with his life as a free man."

Last week, jurors at Bristol Crown Court had been told how Ejiogu and his associates travelled to Swindon on the day before Mr Turner's death to deal drugs for the JoJo County lines network.

On the Sunday afternoon, there was a "coming together" between the defendant and victim, in which Mr Turner was stabbed once to the chest.

It was alleged in court that the victim shouted "people don't mess with me, I'm Lee Turner" and held a knife to the throat of Ejiogu's friend.