A SOLICITOR whose firm represented acquitted suspect Paul Blower in the Jock Straiton murder trial says the 20-year-old’s family are “so relieved” he was found not guilty.
Mr Blower, of Chapel Street in Wincham, was cleared of murder last Wednesday after spending 247 days on remand.
Sale-based brief John Black told The Chronicle today, Tuesday, his client had never denied he was involved in an argument with Mr Straiton and a neighbour on the night the part-time taxi driver was attacked.
But Mr Blower did not lay a finger on the victim, and the not guilty verdict was the correct one, he added.
Mr Black said: “We were confident from the outset Paul was innocent and the evidence which came out in court vindicated the not guilty plea that was entered.
“From the word go he always accepted his presence there and initial involvement, but he always maintained no involvement in the violence and the evidence supported that.
“It’s clear that the jury’s decision was correct, and we hope the family of the deceased will now get some closure.”
