Two men have been found guilty of manslaughter, after Esher waiter Bishal Gurung was found dead in the Thames last year.

A jury at the Old Bailey took days to return verdicts.

Rocky Gurung, Missan Gurung, Roman Thapa, Lav Gurung and Kemik Thakali were all charged with murder and violent disorder, but a lack of evidence saw the murder charge dropped for all, except for Rocky Gurung and Thakali.

Sushant Gurung stood accused of violent disorder.

On Friday May 29, the jury found Rocky Gurung guilty of manslaughter and violent disorder, while Thakali was found guilty of manslaughter, but not guilty of violent disorder.

Missan Gurung was found guilty of violent disorder and the remaining defendants were cleared.

Bishal Gurung, who worked at the Sherpa Kitchen in Esher High Street, had been celebrating the Nepalese new year on a boat moored at Waterloo Bridge when he was falsely accused of hitting 20-year-old Thakali with a bottle.

During the trial, the prosecution claimed the victim was chased along the Embankment by 10 to 15 men and beaten before being thrown into the river, where his body was found two weeks later.

Sushant Gurung, 22, told police in a police interview on July 2, 2008, that he witnessed Bishal Gurung being beaten up.

“[The victim was] down on his hands and knees and people were kicking him – seven or eight people,” the court heard.

He said he saw Rocky Gurung, Thakali and another man named Arjun Gurung, who is currently in Nepal and not on trial, push his body into the water and described Thakali as “fuelled with anger” at the time.

Both Rocky Gurung and Thakali refused to give evidence when asked questions at the close of the prosecution case.

Pathologist Doctor Shorrock, who examined Bishal Gurung’s body, said he was still alive when he was thrown in to the river and died from drowning.

A member of the public reported the attack, but no crime scene was set up because a body was not found for two weeks.

By the time the murder investigation began it was impossible to gather the bulk of forensic evidence as dozens of people had disturbed the scene.

CPS London lawyer Janice Quayle said: “This was a very complex case which was thoroughly reviewed on a number of occasions in the lead up to the trial and when making their decisions, the jury had been presented with all the available evidence.

“We are pleased at the convictions secured against Rocky Gurung, Kemik Thakali and Missan Gurung and hope the verdict provides some comfort to the victim’s family at this time.”

Sentencing is expected on July 10.