THREE Northwich men accused of attacking a grandad who later died in hospital have been told they will face a murder charge.
Paul Blower, 19, Nigel Goolding, 20, and Joshua Spruce, 19 were initially charged with wounding after allegedly attacking 59-year-old Jim Straiton in the street in the early hours of Saturday, July 26.
But the indictment will be amended and the trio will all be asked to enter pleas when they appear before Judge David Hale at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday morning.
“The charge will be upgraded to a murder,” confirmed Det Insp Dave Blood, of Cheshire Constabulary’s major incident unit on Tuesday.
Taxi driver Mr Straiton, known locally as “Jock”, died in hospital on Saturday, August 9, two weeks after being assaulted in the street outside his ground floor flat at Sandybank, Park Road, Winnington.
He underwent emergency surgery to remove a blood clot on his brain after the attack
Blower, of Chapel Street, Wincham; Goolding, of Cromwell Road, Winnington and Spruce of Alderley Road, Winnington were remanded in custody after their first hearing at Vale Royal Magistrates Court on July 28.
