A motorist was found guilty of manslaughter Friday in the death of a Super Bowl reveller who was struck when the man drove his car through a crowd celebrating the New England Patriots' 2004 championship.

Stanley Filoma was charged with killing one man and injuring four others when his sport utility vehicle struck them Feb. 1, 2004. Jurors began deliberating Thursday.

Prosecutors contended Filoma was drunk and fleeing police. Filoma said he panicked when two groups attacked his car.

``I just made up my mind to just leave the street and get out of there,'' Filoma testified Wednesday. ``The next thing that probably would have happened was they would get their hands on me.''

Filoma's lawyer, Bruce Namenson, told jurors that revellers were violent and there was little police presence. Prosecutor John Powers III said Filoma's only focus was evading police.

``He was more concerned about being pinched for drunk driving than anything else,'' Powers said.

James Grabowski, the 21-year-old son of a state police officer, was killed when Filoma's car hit him head-on. Grabowski, of West Newbury, was visiting his brother, a Northeastern student.

Filoma was charged with manslaughter, drunken driving and other charges. His blood-alcohol content was just over the state legal limit.