JONES TRIAL: FRIENDS of David MacKinnon this week described him as a caring man who would do anything to help anyone.

Will Burford, 57, of Chippenham, who with mates Brian Tate and Richard Brooks formed a foursome that met regularly for a drink on Friday evenings, said: "He was just a great guy. The sort of person who would always do you a favour if he could."

Mr Burford was on holiday when Mr MacKinnon was killed and was shocked to hear of his death on his return.

"I just couldn't believe it," he said.

"I had known him for about 15 years after meeting him in a pub and we stayed really good friends.

"The four of us used to meet up regularly on a Friday evening and he was just a good mate and always good company. It is unbelievable that something like this happened to him.

"I really miss him a lot and still think about him."

Mr Brooks, 57, of Corsham, had known Mr MacKinnon for ten years and considered him to be his best friend.

The pair had met one night in the pub and hit it off immediately. They would regularly go out, and Mr Brooks, an electrician's mate, often stayed with Mr MacKinnon and Jones.

Mr Brooks, who gave evidence at the trial, described Mr MacKinnon this week as simply 'a really nice bloke'.

He was shocked by the killing.

"She (Jones) was a fiery sort of woman, but I don't think anybody saw that coming," he said.

Mr Brooks says his sympathies are also with Jones' two children, Stephen, seven, and Kira, three. "Her kids thought the world of Dave, they are brilliant kids," he said.

DS Mark Power, who conducted the police investigation, said he was pleased with the verdict and the way that it reflected Mr MacKinnon's character.

"The most important thing was David MacKinnon and how he came out of it, and the jury found he did not provoke her," said DS Power. "All the evidence we collected showed him to be a caring man who never argued."

He added that the police had carried out a short but very thorough investigation into the case, speaking to everyone who knew Jones and Mr MacKinnon.

DS Power said he felt the verdict had been fair.