A 23 year-old man acquitted for murder this week after serving almost a year behind bars says he has lost all faith in the justice system.

Otis Brown, of Frant Road, Thornton Heath, walked free on Tuesday after an Old Bailey jury accepted he had killed Dwaine Douglas, 18, in self defence.

But Otis told the Croydon Guardian he lost a year of his life and missed the birth of his second daughter because of a "heartless justice system".

The court heard Dwaine was killed on May 18 last year after he and five friends attempted to rob Otis who was on his way to his girlfriend's house.

Dad-of-two Otis was surrounded by the group and punched and kicked.

In self defence he grabbed one of his assailant's knives and stabbed Dwaine.

He was arrested a few days later and held in custody until his trial started last week.

Speaking from his family home he said: "It is just so nice to be home, we had some celebrations on the day I got out but to be honest I just wanted to spend time with my family and my two girls, I have a whole year to catch up on. I am never going to get that time back."

Sorrow

Otis, who has two daughters aged four and three months, said he feels no guilt for what he did to Dwaine, just sorrow for his family.

He explains: "After it happened I had no idea that Dwaine had died - I just ran in fear of my life after it happened.

"I saw it in the news and I just didn't click at what I had done. There are so many stabbings around here that I thought it was another incident. It was only when the police pulled me out of my bed at six in the morning I realised.

"I feel upset for his family as I have kids and they are so young and I know how I would feel but if Dwaine had not been doing wrong deeds then we would not have crossed paths.

"It proves what goes around comes around - God works in mysterious ways. I had to fight for my life and if it is between my life and a robber's life then I will always choose mine, I can't afford not to fight - nice guys come last."

"Heartless system"

Mr Brown says he was jailed for four-and-a-half months aged just 18 after he was wrongly accused of a robbery - he was later acquitted.

He said: "I have no faith in the police. The Government have taken one-and-a-half years of my life that I can't get back but I just have to see it as experience.

"I have had no apology, the whole system is heartless, they expect you to thank them for setting you free."

Mr Brown is now hoping to settle back into his life with his girlfriend Nadine and will be concentrating on making a future for his family.

He says he fears repercussions but cannot let that rule his life.

Mr Brown added: "It could always happen but I can't sit in my house for the rest of my life. If it happens it happens and I would have to confront it but this incident has taught me that it is better to run boy.

"I won't be hanging around Croydon as much - I will go further out for things. It's a shame I have to do that but if it stops me from ending up on a mortuary slab then it is worth it."

  • Three men and two youths will be appearing at the Inner London Crown Court next Friday charged in connection with the alleged robbery.