He told the former hotel worker: “There was no evidence to make either a jury sure or me sure that the injuries were caused by a deliberate malicious act.”
He described Lyle as a “hard-working and loving, doting father” but added that “force must have been used for this to happen”.
Martine Snowdon, prosecuting, agreed that “considerable force” would have been required to inflict the injuries, but said she did not believe it was done maliciously.
Keith Sutton, defending, said that Lyle had always been known as a man of good character.
