A man who admitted he was holding the knife that fatally wounded his son has been found not guilty of murder.
Christopher John Gibson, 63, was on trial for the death of his 29-year-old son during a violent altercation at their North Lismore home on November 18, 2016.
Shawn Gibson died from a shallow stab wound that cut a vital artery in his neck.
The defence argued Christopher Gibson had been chopping ingredients for chicken cacciatore when the fight erupted, and had thrown his arms up in self-defence when his son flew at him in a rage.
The jury heard Shawn Gibson had drunk 10 cans of pre-mixed rum and cola in two hours earlier that day, and also had had a violent argument with his girlfriend.
The jury was played a triple-0 call in which the accused man was heard screaming and crying while asking for advice on how to save his son's life.
When police arrived, they found the distraught father with a bloodied knife in the back pocket of his jeans.
The court heard Christopher Gibson told the arresting officers, "Just let me die, I've killed my son."
He also twice attempted self-harm in the hours after his arrest.
Something father will 'have to deal with over many years'
Christopher Gibson walked free from the Supreme Court in Lismore on Tuesday, accompanied by his solicitor Jim Fuggle.
"He's very grateful for the verdict. However, at the same time it's a tragedy what's happened," Mr Fuggle said.
"He has to live with that for the rest of his life, and he's still bereft by the loss of his son and the effect it has had on the larger family.
"It's something that's going to have to be dealt with over many years into the future."
