Man found not guilty over LPG lighter death

A young man accused of killing his friend by flicking a cigarette lighter after huffing LPG gas in a car in Blenheim has been found not guilty of manslaughter.

Thomas Kelson Hillman, 18, died of heat-related internal injuries after an explosion in the car on October 30, 2006.

In the High Court at Blenheim yesterday, a jury took two hours to decide Tristian Ceciel Grant Beckett, 19, was not responsible for Mr Hillman's death.

Beckett had said he never thought his action would cause an explosion.