PROSECUTORS have dropped a manslaughter charge against a man who was accused of killing his housemate, who died after police said he was tackled during an argument at Cardiff last year.
Mathew "Fordo" Ford, 46, a much-loved member of Newcastle's surfing community, died at Royal North Shore Hospital 11 days after he suffered serious spinal injuries at a home in Lovell Street on May 22.
His housemate and long-term friend, Adam John Parr, was charged in September with manslaughter, detectives alleging Parr had "tackled" Mr Ford to the ground, the injuries he suffered ultimately leading to his death.
But nine months on, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) made a determination that there would be no further proceedings on the manslaughter charge and it was recently dismissed in Newcastle Local Court.
There were no witnesses to what happened between the two friends in one of the back rooms of the house and left Mr Ford suffering the catastrophic spinal injuries.
Parr's solicitor, Mark Hanlon, had raised issues relating to causation as well as providing police with names of potential witnesses who the defence said could support their case that Mr Ford's injuries were sustained accidentally and caused when Mr Ford tackled Parr.
News of Mr Ford's spinal injuries and subsequent death sent shockwaves through the Newcastle surfing community, many of whom remembered him for his bold and adventurous spirit.
A fundraiser to support his family and help fund his funeral raised more than $26,000 and those who knew him organised a paddle out at Nobbys to send him off.
Mr Ford and Parr had been long-term friends but had only lived together in Cardiff for about six weeks when the pair allegedly became involved in an argument on the morning of May 22 last year.
Police had alleged the argument in one of the back rooms of the house turned physical and Mr Ford sustained significant injuries that left him lying on the floor, unable to move from the neck down.
Paramedics were called and police say emergency services were initially told Mr Ford had fallen over.
Police had alleged that, once in the ambulance and alone with paramedics, Mr Ford had said: "I had an argument with my friend, he tackled me to the ground and landed on my neck".
He was taken to John Hunter Hospital, where it was confirmed he had a serious spinal injury.
He was transferred to Royal North Shore Hospital the next day, where it was revealed he was suffering a C4-C5 fracture.
He underwent major spinal surgery in a bid to stabilise his spinal cord, but was unable to breathe after being taken off ventilation and died in the early hours of June 2.
Detectives were notified and launched a strike force to investigate Mr Ford's death.
However, at least one person at the home at the time Mr Ford was injured refused to provide a statement and Parr declined to do a police interview after receiving legal advice.
Ultimately, detectives decided to charge Parr with manslaughter, relying on the claim that Mr Ford had been tackled.
He spent only a few hours in police custody after his arrest before being granted bail.
Police had served a brief of evidence in the case and the next step was for prosecutors to finalise the charges Parr would face before the decision was made to drop the manslaughter charge.
