Randall Walker yesterday left Supreme Court a free man despite being found guilty of unlawfully causing the death of his 56-year-old uncle.

Chief Justice Austin Ward -- describing the death as a "most unfortunate occurrence'' -- said Walker had already spent long enough in custody.

It took the four-man, eight-woman jury almost three-hours to come to the majority decision, convicting Walker of manslaughter.

On October 19 of last year, Walker hit his uncle on the jaw after being twice pushed in a domestic dispute over smoking.

His uncle fell backward, hit his head on a china cabinet and died a half-an-hour after being rushed to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

"The death of Brownlow Place was a most unfortunate occurrence,'' said Mr.

Justice Ward. "It was not intended and it has caused much pain in the Place family.

"Seldom does a single punch lead to such tragic circumstances. He has been in custody since October 19 of last year to October 14. He should not be kept any longer.'' Mr. Justice Ward sentenced the 36-year-old man to 15 months in prison, "or any such time that will allow for his immediate release''.

Walker and his family wept for joy upon hearing the sentence which came after Walker delivered an emotional plea for leniency, moving nearly the entire courtroom to tears.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I expect this,'' Walker whimpered. "I never intended to murder or injure anyone.

"I've disappointed my family. I'm very much disheartened. He was my uncle, I respected my uncle.'' Turning to his uncle's widow he sobbed: "I'm so sorry.

I never meant for this to happen.'' Walker, of Marsh Folly Road, Pembroke, was originally charged with the murder of his 56-year-old uncle on October 19, 1996.

But on Tuesday, Mr. Justice Ward instructed the jury that they were to only consider manslaughter.

Manslaughter is the unlawful killing of anyone without the intent to cause death.

During the three-day trial the jury heard from the Walker's grandparents -- the parents of the victim.

Lefroy and Sadie Place told the court that they believed that the domestic dispute which lead to their son's death was an accident.

The jury also heard from Walker who testified that he never intended to harm his uncle.

Walker, who lived with his grandparents and his uncle at the time of the incident, testified that he was watching television when he smelled smoke.

He said he went in search of the source of the smoke, since no one was allowed to smoke in the house, and found his uncle standing by their kitchen door with a cigarette in his hand. A dispute resulted in which he punched his uncle on the chin. Pathologist James Johnston testified that Mr. Place died as a result of haemorrhaging to the brain which resulted from an injury to the back of the head.

Despite resuscitation attempts by several emergency doctors, Mr. Place was pronounced dead at 10.27 p.m.