A former Pacific Beach man was acquitted May 20 of involuntary manslaughter and assault in the death of a man who was punched in the head and died five days later. This was the second acquittal for Sam Bonsu, 36, who was found not guilty last October of murder and voluntary manslaughter in the 2008 death of Nathaniel Ward, 25, who also lived in Pacific Beach. The October jury deadlocked on involuntary manslaughter and assault charges. According to testimony, Ward and others had been drinking at several Pacific Beach bars and took a taxi to the apartment of Colin Costanzo on May 24, 2008. Costanzo lived on Bond Street in Pacific Beach, as did Bonsu. Bonsu testified he was driving around 2 a.m. and the taxi nearly struck his vehicle. Bonsu claimed several people in the taxi yelled at him and someone made a lewd gesture. Bonsu followed the taxi and parked across the street as the men got out of the cab. Costanzo and others testified Bonsu punched him and Ward and then quickly left. Ward was hit in the temple and collapsed. The taxi driver drove away, and police and investigators were never able to find him or determine the company he worked for. Ward was taken to a hospital, examined and released. Ward later fell unconscious and went into a coma. He died May 29, 2008 from severe brain injuries that were not diagnosed when he was first hospitalized. Ward’s parents were stunned by the second acquittal. Ward’s mother and friends openly wept upon hearing the verdict. After Bonsu walked out of the courtroom, Carrie Ward called Bonsu the murderer of her son. “We’re devastated,” Ward said. “It’s a complete nightmare.” Ward described the jury as “gullible and ignorant.” She said that justice had not been done and that Bonsu remains a danger to society. “He has to answer to God for this. God will do a better job than (a jury),” said Bran Ward, the victim’s father. “Ultimately, he’s going to reap what he sows.” In both trials, defense attorney Gary Gibson argued that Bonsu acted in self-defense after he encountered Ward and three of his friends. “Mr. Bonsu…felt he had to defend himself against four drunk guys at two in the morning,” Gibson said. Deputy District Attorney Corrine Miesfeld said there was no need for Bonsu to claim self-defense. Miesfeld said Bonsu approached the group because he felt “disrespected.” Miesfeld noted that Ward was 5’5″ tall and weighed 140 pounds whereas Bonsu weighed 220 pounds and was 6 feet tall. The 10-woman and two-man jury deliberated for three hours before reaching a verdict. The jury also acquitted Bonsu of assaulting Costanzo. The first jury deliberated for several days and reheard testimony before finding Bonsu not guilty of second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter. Bonsu had been free on $50,000 bond. Bonsu declined comment afterwards.