A murder enquiry has been launched after a man assaulted in Chester at the weekend died earlier today (Monday).
The victim, who is aged 63 and from Northumberland, suffered serious injuries following an assault near to the Liverpool Arms pub, in Northgate Street, Chester at around 12.50am on Saturday (November 23).
It is understood that the victim had been in the Liverpool Arms during the course of the evening and was attacked after leaving the premises. It is believed his attackers were in the bar during the evening.
He was taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital in a critical condition and subsequently placed on a ventilator. The ventilator was switched off shortly before 1pm today. His next of kin are aware of this tragic development.
A Home Office post mortem examination will take place tomorrow morning (Tuesday).
Two men, both aged 26 and from the Ellesmere Port area, were arrested in the early hours of Sunday, interviewed, and are currently on police bail.
Sergeant Andrew Burrage of Chester police said: "People will understandably have concerns following this incident. I would like to reassure the communities of Chester that extra patrols will be visible in the area to answer any questions people may have. Enquiries are ongoing, and at this stage we are keeping an open mind, and it is too early to speculate on a motive for this attack."
Police are continuing to ask anyone who was in the Liverpool Arms bar, or the area of Northgate Street where the attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning, and who may have any information of relevance, to contact Chester police on the non-emergency number 101, quoting incident number 50 of 23/11/2013.
Information can also be left anonymously on the Crimestoppers hotline 0800 555 111.
