A jury acquitted a Pacific Beach man of murder and voluntary manslaughter Friday, Oct. 3, but Sam Osei Bonsu received a Nov. 21 date Monday, Oct. 6, on the remaining charges of involuntary manslaughter and two assaults stemming from a lethal punch to the head which killed a young man as he was exiting a taxicab. Bonsu, who turned 36 on Monday, was released later that day on $20,000 bond after San Diego Superior Court Judge John Thompson, Jr. reduced his $300,000 bond since he no longer faces murder or voluntary manslaughter charges in the death of Nathaniel “Nat” Ward, 25, of Pacific Beach. The jury deadlocked 8-4 for acquittal for assault and involuntary manslaughter of Ward and assault of Colin Costanzo, 25, that stemmed from a 2 a.m. incident on May 24 in the 4400 block of Bond Street near Mission Bay High School. Bonsu’s attorney Gary Gibson sought the bail reduction over the objection of Deputy District Attorney Corrine Miesfeld, who said she was very disappointed with the jury’s verdict. Gibson argued that Bonsu acted in self-defense when he approached the men who were just getting out of the taxi. Bonsu claimed the taxi nearly clipped the silver-colored Scion he was driving on Magnolia Street and stopped his car to go talk to the men. Gibson said Bonsu found himself surrounded by four men, all of whom had been drinking. However, Bonsu threw the first punches, and then walked back to the Scion and drove away. On Monday, Thompson initially told Bonsu to stay away from Pacific Beach if he posts bond, but Gibson told the judge Bonsu needs to go back and talk to his landlord on Bond Street. Thompson said he could do that, and could travel on Garnet and Grand Streets, but did not want him to contact any witnesses or victims in the case. Gibson agreed that Bonsu would avoid the area after settling up business with his landlord. Costanzo no longer lives on Bond Street and has since moved elsewhere. The verdict by a seven-man, five-woman jury shocked Ward’s parents, and many friends of the victims. Gibson had argued for acquittal, saying Bonsu’s punches were in self-defense, while Miesfeld asked the jury to convict him of second-degree murder. The jury deliberated 9 1/2 hours over three days and that includes the read-back of Bonsu’s testimony they had requested. Bonsu testified he and a date were driving to a liquor store to buy bottled water when the near accident occurred. He denied he had been drinking. The single punch to Ward’s temple eventually led to his death, but not right away. He was knocked unconscious and he and Costanzo were rushed to a hospital. Ward was discharged, but returned later the next day to the emergency room, and he died May 29 from brain injuries. Ward’s parents said he received three CAT scans of his head while he was in the hospital. They have not filed a civil suit in the case. Miesfeld said one difficulty in the case came from how the victim died from one punch that damaged his brain. Most beating victims don’t die from one punch. “The defendant has no right to self-defense because he was the aggressor,” argued Miesfeld in her closing argument. Gibson had argued there was no expressed malice, a necessary ingredient for a murder conviction, and this happened suddenly without any planning. He said someone kicked Bonsu first, and said the incident was “fueled by youth, alcohol, race.” Bonsu is black and the men are white. Another problem in the case involves the missing taxi driver, who drove off quickly after the fight started. “We’re still looking for that taxi driver,” the prosecutor said. Costanzo received stitches after Bonsu punched him in the face, causing a tooth to pierce his lip. Ward’s friends also expressed dismay at the verdict. “His family and all of us were very disappointed. We’re unhappy with the verdict,” said Marie Angeli. “Our friend is dead. (Bonsu) did not need to get out of his car,” she said. The cab driver has never identified. The victim’s friends said they figured the cab driver may have not either read or heard anything about the case afterwards, or was operating the cab in some manner that would have got him in trouble with his employer, such as not logging the fare. They urged him to come forward. “Nat was a wonderful, happy person. Very happy. You couldn’t find a picture of him not smiling,” Angeli said.