Jordan Morrison died while on vacation in the Dominican Republic in 2011. (CBC)

One man has been acquitted and another given 10 years in prison in connection with the beating death of Barrie teen Jordan Morrison at a resort in the Dominican Republic.

Canadian citizen Dmytro Aref Yev pleaded guilty to second degree murder and was given the 10-year prison term Monday night after he admitted he attacked Morrison outside a resort nightclub near Punta Cana on Feb. 4, 2011. His co-accused, Algerian national Bouzid Redha, was acquitted of second degree murder after Aref Yev said he acted alone.

Both co-accused were 21 at the time. The defence team for the two men has said they were drunk at the time.

"We are happy with the decision. We were the ones saying from the beginning that [Redha] was not guilty. We were saying the truth," Redha's lawyer, Eloy Bello Perez, told CBC News.

"This was a fight between two guys, they were drinking, partying, it could happen to whoever drinks and gets into a fight."

Witnesses have said Morrison, 19, was attacked after he had come to the aid of a woman in a bar who was spit on. The altercation began in the club at the Grand Paradise Bavaro resort and moved outside, where Morrison was severely beaten.

He died of head injuries as he was being taken to hospital.

Three other Canadian men were acquitted in the case.

Morrison had been vacationing with his mother and father at the resort, which is billed as an ideal vacation spot for families.

Morrison's parents, Dale Morrison and his wife Carrie McGinnis, have 10 days to appeal the verdict. Redha will remain in the Dominican Republic until then.