A husband cleared of tipping a vat of boiling fat over his wife at their fish and chip shop has died less than three years after his acquittal.
Businessman Geoffrey Bran carried on serving customers after his wife Mavis was burned alive by the 160 degree oil at their Chipoteria takeaway in the village of Hermon, west Wales, his trial heard.
Mrs Bran, 69, told a friend and a paramedic that her husband had deliberately thrown the bubbling hot fat over her after she told him off for burning four portions of cod.
But Mr Bran said his wife had slipped on the greasy floor and pulled the vat over as she reached out to stop herself from falling.
She died in hospital six days after suffering 46 per cent burns at the couple's village chippy, located near Carmarthen.
Mr Bran was acquitted of murder and manslaughter at his trial at Swansea Crown Court in November 2019.
He stunned police by asking for the deep fat fryer, an exhibit in the murder trial, to be returned to him.
But it has since came to light that Mr Bran died peacefully at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen aged 74.
A tribute from the family said he was a "beloved husband of the late Mavis, devoted father of Richard, Rhiannon and Rhidian, much loved grandfather, respected father-in-law, also a dear brother".
They added that he would be "sadly missed by all his family and many friends".
Mr Bran's funeral will take place on Friday.
The murder trial heard Mrs Bran frequently nagged her husband who was "the quiet one" in the 34 marriage and the pair had always argued, swore and shouted at each other.
Mr Bran, 71 at the time, sobbed in the dock as he told how he loved his wife and still missed her every day.
Asked why he didn't tend her injuries or call an ambulance he said: "I was in another world. I lost the plot."
Christopher Clee, defending, told the jury: "If he had thrown it over her where are the injuries you would expect to see on him?
"Mavis Bran was the dominant one who started the arguments when she had been drinking, the one who said terrible things about Geoff, that 'she wished he was dead' or 'she would f***ing kill him'.
"This is a placid man of 71. You may consider some of the character references – unflappable, patient, stoical."
Mr Bran was in tears when the jury cleared him of all charges and he thanked them with a wave before leaving court.
Swansea Crown Court heard Mr Bran had been accused of pushing or throwing a deep fat fryer at his wife at the Chipoteria because she had been "nagging him".
But a jury found Bran not guilty of murder or manslaughter following a week-long trial.
The court previously heard how Mrs Bran had screamed "please help me" down the phone to a friend after being scalded with the oil.
But Mr Bran, the hearing was told, carried on serving customers as his semi-naked wife cried out for help.
The husband denied hurling the oil over his wife and explained that she had accidentally tipped the fryer over herself.
Mr Bran and his wife had come out of retirement to start their roadside cafe.
The couple had been married for more than 30 years and had no children, although Mr Bran had three children from a prior relationship.
They owned around 10 businesses around south Wales, including the Chipoteria which opened in January 2018 in a cabin situated next to their home in the small village.
