BBC director, 40, who pushed man in row cleared of manslaughter
Moment BBC director, 40, pushed a man who fell and then died of his injuries in a row over Welsh independence – as he is cleared of manslaughter today in court
- Hywel Williams, 40, was today cleared of manslaughter at Swansea Crown Court
- CCTV footage showed the BBC director pushing Paul Ormerod, 75, outside a pub
A BBC television director was today cleared of killing a retired grammar school teacher in a row over Welsh independence.
Hywel Williams, 40, was filmed pushing Peter Ormerod, 75, in the street following an argument in a pub in Burry Port, West Wales.
CCTV shown to a jury at Swansea Crown Court captured the moment Williams placed his hands on the 75-year-old just moments after they left the pub.
But the TV director today was found not guilty of manslaughter by a jury at after he claimed he was acting in self-defence after being lunged at by Mr Ormerod.
A court heard the respected teacher hit his head on the ground and died four days later from severe head injuries.
Jurors were shown CCTV footage of BBC director Hywel Williams, 40, pushing Peter Ormerod, 75, in a pub car park following a row
Peter Ormerod, 75, (right) died in hospital from severe head injuries four days after the row with BBC director Hywel Williams (left)
READ MORE: BBC television director, 40, killed a retired grammar school teacher, 75, by pushing him in the street in row over Welsh Independence, court hears
The court heard Williams works as a director for Welsh language soap opera Pobol Y Cwm on Welsh language channel S4C.
Jurors heard the TV director and retired teacher had an argument about Welsh independence in a pub in Burry Port, West Wales.
Another clip shown to the jury at Swansea Crown Court showed the two men inside the Portabello pub in Burry Port engaged in an animated conversation – with Williams angrily jabbing his finger at his victim.
Williams later pushed former grammar school maths teacher Mr Ormerod to the floor in a clash outside.
A court heard the two men ‘had opposing views’ on whether Wales should be independent from the British state before they left the pub.
Williams told his manslaughter trial that he was fed-up with the row over Welsh politics which angered Mr Ormerod.
The BBC director said he told Mr Ormerod: ‘I don’t have time for this mate I don’t want any of this.’
Williams said Mr Ormerod replied: ‘Don’t you ever speak to me like that again. How dare you speak to me like that.’
CCTV footage from inside the pub showed Paul Ormerod (left) and Hywel Williams (right) engaged in an animated discussion about Welsh independence
Ex-grammar school maths teacher Paul Ormerod hit the ground after being pushed by Hywel WIlliams
Williams said the two men swore at each other before he pushed Mr Ormerod to the floor in self-defence.
He said ‘I felt scared and pushed him.’
He said he hadn’t meant to hurt Mr Ormerod, but just to push him away.
READ MORE: Man accused of killing retired grammar school teacher who died when he hit his head on ground during row over Welsh independence told police ‘I literally just pushed him’, court hears
‘I thought he was going to get back up,’ he said.
Mr Williams dialled 999 and tried to seek medical assistance and admitted pushing the older man to police.
‘I did everything I could to help him,’ he told the court.
Mr Ormerod died in hospital four days later on September 28 last year having suffered traumatic head and brain injuries.
Prosecutor Ian Wright KC told how the row flared when Mr Ormerod and Williams were drinking in the Portobello in Burry Port.
CCTV from inside the pub showed the two men in animated conversation before they left the pub separately.
Mr Wright said: ‘During the course of that Saturday evening they were seated, at one point, in close proximity to each other.
‘The conversation between them the table turned to Welsh independence and Welsh politics generally.
‘Peter Ormerod and Hywel Williams had opposing views on these topics and expressed these opposing views – and there was something of a disagreement between them in terms of the views being expressed.’
Swansea Crown Court heard Williams left the pub to go and check his phone with Mr Ormerod ‘at around the same time’ when he walked out with the defendant’s mother.
Paul Ormerod (pictured) previously taught at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School for Boys in Carmarthen
CCTV footage showed Paul Ormerod (pictured) and Hywel Williams in a confrontation outside the pub
Mr Wright said there was CCTV of the two men coming together outside a coffee shop a short distance from the pub before Williams allegedly pushed the older man to the floor.
‘The two men appear on the CCTV to move towards each other before Hywel Williams pushes Peter Ormerod to the chest.
‘That push caused Peter Ormerod to fall backwards on the back of his head.
‘Having hit the ground, having hit his head on the ground, Peter Ormerod did not move again.’
Mr Wright said Williams phone and ambulance and remained at the scene until he was arrested by police over the alleged attack.
Williams, of Grangetown, Cardiff, denies manslaughter saying he acted in self defence.
In a tribute following widower Mr Ormerod’s death, his family said: ‘Peter was a well respected teacher and member of the community a very loved and loving father, grandfather, brother and friend.’
Mr Ormerod previously taught at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School for Boys in Carmarthen, and at the Welsh language school Ysgol Bro Myrddin.
Judge Paul Thomas KC told Williams he was free to leave the court.
Judge Thomas KC described it as a ‘terribly, terribly sad case’ and he offered his condolences to the family of Mr Ormerod.
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