A teenager has spoken of his relief after a jury cleared him of manslaughter.

William Hopkins, 19, who hopes to be a primary school teacher, was accused of unlawfully killing David Illingworth, who died after being punched once in the face in a street fight in Brighton in August last year.

After a five-day trial at Lewes Crown Court, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty to the charge and Mr Hopkins, a sports science student, of Southern Down, Bridgend, Wales, walked free.

Outside the court he spoke of the pressure he had been under since his arrest and the sympathy he felt for the dead man's family.

He said: "The verdict is a big relief for me.

"I am still very sorry for the family. It is a terrible thing that happened. It was such a shock when I found out he had died."

Mr Hopkins said he controlled his emotions as the verdict was announced by the jury foreman as he did not want to cause any further distress to Mr Illingworth's family, who were sitting in the public gallery.

He said waiting for the trial to begin had been a difficult time for him and he had tried to get on with his life and his studies.

He thanked his family and friends for their support.

During the trial, Mr Hopkins admitted punching Mr Illingworth, 24, a former student at Sussex University.

But he said he was acting in defence of his brother, Tom, who Mr Illingworth had hit moments earlier.

Mr Illingworth, of London Terrace, Brighton, was knocked unconscious by the punch. He fell backwards and hit his head on the road, suffering fatal injuries.

He died five days later at Hurstwood Park neurological hospital, Haywards Heath.

The court heard the attack took place in the early hours of August 3 as Mr Illingworth was walking with his girlfriend in Ship Street.

Mr Hopkins, who was with his brother and a female friend, said they saw the couple, who they did not know, having a noisy row.

He said his brother went over to calm them down but then he saw Mr Illingworth take a swing and hit his brother.

He ran across the road and struck Mr Illingworth. Afterwards they ran from the scene, leaving Mr Illingworth lying unconscious in the street, and Mr Hopkins was later arrested at his brother's home in Brunswick Road, Hove.

Mr Hopkins told the jury he was "shocked and devastated" when he learnt Mr Illingworth had died.

The court heard passers-by who witnessed the fracas did not see Mr Illingworth strike Tom Hopkins.

The prosecution accused William Hopkins of acting beyond reasonable self-defence.