A man who faced two crown court trials accused of manslaughter has been found not guilty after prosecutors offered no further evidence.
Abdelllkader Heni, 28, was charged with manslaughter after allegedly punching 32-year-old Ammar Terbeche in Rochdale town centre.
Mr Terbeche, who was originally born in Algeria and was well known within Rochdale's Muslim community, died after being run over by a taxi seconds later.
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Following two trials, both juries were discharged after they were unable to reach a verdict.
Mr Heni is now set to be released from prison where he was held on remand.
A judge ordered that a not guilty verdict be returned, after prosecutors decided no further evidence would be called.
The decision was made following consultation between the Crown Prosecution Service and the police, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
"Mr Heni the prosecution are not carrying on," Judge Maurice Greene told Mr Heni, who appeared via video link from HMP Forest Bank.
"You should be released today from custody.
"That is the end of this matter."
The trial heard that the pair had been involved in an 'animated' argument' outside Yates bar in Rochdale town centre, in the early hours of September 20 last year.
Mr Heni allegedly punched Mr Terbeche to the back of the head, causing him to fall into the road.
About 30 seconds later Mr Terbeche was ran over by a taxi.
He suffered 'catastrophic' injuries and died at the scene.
Prosecutors said the taxi driver was 'entirely blameless', while police said it was 'entirely reasonable' that the driver hadn't seen Mr Terbeche in the road.
They claimed that Mr Heni was responsible for his death, and said there had been 'no justification' for hitting Mr Terbeche.
Mr Heni left the area and was arrested when he was found 'hiding' in the back of a lorry at the port of Dover in an attempt to leave the UK, the court heard.
When he was interviewed by police, Mr Heni claimed that Mr Terbeche had been drunk and provocative, used racist language and had threatened to stab him.
He alleged Mr Terbeche had slapped him, and at trial said he had been acting in self defence.
Mr Terbeche moved to the UK in 2017 and settled in Rochdale.
He volunteered at the Castlemere Community Centre and at the Central Mosque, and had enrolled in courses at Hopwood Hall College.
Tributes flooded in to Mr Terbeche following his death.
"He was very respectful, very humble, very sincere and very caring," a tribute from his family and close friend said.
"Humility was his forte. He had strong faith and firm beliefs. He was a simple person who lived a simple life.
"He went out of his way to help everyone without expecting anything in return.
"He was a decent young man who loved learning. He was very happy and settled here in Rochdale. He was a graduate and was preparing to enrol for a master’s degree. Over the years I had known him, I never heard him swear or say anything bad to anyone.
"The whole community is devastated at the loss of such a wonderful person.
"We all miss him dearly and pray for justice for him."
