PAUL Blower was dramatically cleared of murder a week ago today – 24 hours before his co-accused were both convicted.
Mr Blower, 20, of Chapel Street, Wincham, was found not guilty of murder and manslaughter after spending 247 days on remand.
Prosecutors had claimed he was the killer seen emerging from the shadows and jumping on Jock Straiton’s head as he lay on the pavement.
But Mr Blower maintained he never touched the victim and he wasn’t at the scene when someone delivered the final head blow that cost Mr Straiton his life.
Not a single witness identified Mr Blower as an attacker – and the jury acquitted him.
His ex-girlfriend, Lauren Randals, told the court he had tried to stop Nigel Goolding and Joshua Spruce as they repeatedly punched and kicked Mr Straiton.
Being accused of the grave crime is not the first tragedy to befall the 20-year-old, who spent his last birthday behind bars.
In December 2003 his dad John, then 44, broke his neck in a scrum while playing rugby for Northwich’s 1st XV and was left quadriplegic – paralysed from the neck down.
