Lee Webster jailed for Jason Wood pills-in-beer 'prank' killing
A man convicted of killing his friend by putting 27 anti-depressant tablets into his drink has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.
At Maidstone Crown Court Lee Webster, 26, of Harmer Street, Gravesend, Kent, was found guilty of the manslaughter of Jason Wood, 30.
He had denied the charge, claiming he slipped the pills into Mr Wood's beer as a practical joke.
Webster was given a further six months for perverting the course of justice.
Co-defendant Steven McNamara, 29, of Camden Square, Ramsgate, was sentenced to six months in prison after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice but was released because of the time served on remand.
Mr Wood died hours after drinking a can of beer which Webster had laced with his own prescribed anti-depressant tablets.
It followed a night of drinking by the three men at a property in Ramsgate on 22 October 2012.
Webster did not mention that he had put the pills into Mr Wood's drink until a month after his death, and he tried to hide what he had done by discarding the medicine bottle.
In a statement following the trial, Mr Wood's family said they were pleased a verdict had been reached.
"The past seven months have been very difficult for the family. Knowing that justice has been served will help to give us peace.
"Jason was a happy, caring and fun-loving son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend to many. He is sadly missed by all."