Acquittal in Belchertown death case

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (AP) - An Amherst man has been acquitted of an involuntary manslaughter charge in connection with the death of another man at a Belchertown apartment complex two years ago.

Prosecutors said 20-year-old Lennox Williams punched 44-year-old Kelly DeMarco in June 2010, causing DeMarco to fall, strike his head on the ground and suffer a fatal skull fracture.

Williams' defense attorney says his client was only trying to protect a woman whom DeMarco had threatened to kill after she rejected his romantic advances. The lawyer said DeMarco was drunk and high on drugs at the time.

Prosecutors said although DeMarco's behavior was reprehensible, it didn't warrant getting killed.

Williams' lawyer said after the verdict was read Wednesday that "it's a good day."

Two others still face charges in DeMarco's death.