Adelaide pizza murder charge downgraded

A gym part-owner who was accused of murdering an Adelaide nightclub patron has had his charge downgraded to manslaughter.

The 25-year-old, whose name has been suppressed, was charged with murdering pizza shop owner Robert Vallelonga, 44, who was found unconscious in Adelaide's CBD early on May 4 last year.

But the charge was dismissed in the Adelaide magistrates court on Thursday and replaced with a count of manslaughter.

Prosecutors previously alleged the man launched an unprovoked attack on Mr Vallelonga, who was about to get into a taxi after being ejected from the nearby Apple nightclub.

The man allegedly told a taxi driver after the incident he had "put someone to sleep for a few days".

The man's friend then allegedly told the cabbie: "He will get off. It is self-defence."

The man is due to answer the charge on April 2.