A brother and sister are facing sentences for manslaughter after stuffing kebab meat into the mouth of a man as he slept.
David Clark, 56, collapsed after the incident, which happened as he travelled home by a train to Barrow after a football match.
Siblings David Noble, 34, and Nicole Cavin, 24, knew the victim but were returning from a separate day out in Blackpool when they ended up sitting together after Mr Clark boarded the train at Lancaster.
The siblings had been drinking in the resort and bought more alcohol and kebabs before boarding the train, LancsLive reports.
Mr Clark had spent the day in Lancaster watching the Lancaster FC v Farsley Celtic match with his friend Jon Waite, a two week trial at the Nightingale court, Preston North End heard.
The two men had drunk up to 15 pints each before boarding the train.
On the train, Mr Clark and Mr Waite joined Noble, Cavin and Cavin’s boyfriend at a table and were laughing and joking around.
A food fight broke out with pieces of kebab meat being thrown around.
Mr Clark, known as Titch to his friends, fell asleep, and Noble and Cavin pushed pieces of meat into his mouth.
Tragically, a piece of chicken the size of a golf ball became lodged in his throat.
Mr Clark vomited and awoke after they inserted the food into his mouth but collapsed in the aisle as he tried to stand up.
Passengers on the train attempted to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre but were unable to dislodge the food.
Mr Clark was taken to hospital but died the following day.
Noble of Grange-Over-Sands, and Cavin of Flookburgh, who was then employed as a carer, denied causing Mr Clark’s death on March 2, 2019, at a trial which concluded this week, but were found guilty by a majority of 11 jurors to one.
The Honorary Recorder of Preston Judge Robert Altham described the case as 'extremely sensitive and difficult.'
Detective chief inspector Steve May said: “This was an unusual and highly complex legal case and I commend the courage of those witnesses who came forward and provided statements and those who attended court to give evidence.
“The dignity and composure of Mr Clark’s family has been exemplary throughout and I hope that they can take some comfort in the knowledge that justice has been done.”
Noble and Cavin will be sentenced at a later date.
