A CORONER warned a suspect at an inquest into the death of an Atherton pensioner that he may still face charges.

In recording a verdict of unlawful killing, coroner Aidan Cotter hit-out at key-witness Christopher Aspey who failed to turn up to give evidence into the death of Ernest Sargeant.

Former miner and gardener Mr Sargeant, aged 88, of Shelley Court, Hag Fold, Atherton, was hit by the reversing vehicle on the car park of a pub.

Despite the efforts of pubgoers who tried to save him he was pronounced dead at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Patholgist Dr Jonathan Pearson, who carried out a post-mortem examination said he died of heart failure and a head injury.

Mr Cotter said: "These injuries in themselves would not be enough to kill a young, fit, healthy man but they were enough to kill Mr Sargeant because he was an elderly man with a heart problem.

"The person who drove the car into Mr Sargeant is directly responsible for his death although is it not the head injury itself which killed him."

Within hours of the accident police arrested two people, a local man and another man by the name of Jones, originally from Wales, who was living at the same address.

But no fingerprints, DNA samples or fibres were found in the vehicle linking it to the suspects. The car, a blue Vauxhall Cavalier, had been reported stolen the previous week.

The inquest heard one man was charged following Mr Sargeant's death and appeared three times before magistrates by the case was discontinued because of lack of forensic evidence.

Det Insp Steve Nolan of Leigh CID said within two hours two suspects had been arrested.

But he appealed for a third man to come forward. He said he believed that man wearing a green fleece jacket had been in a nearby shop and may have vital evidence.

Mr Cotter told the inquest one of the suspects, Christopher Aspey, should have appeared in an identity parade but this was called off because he was was said to be "too unique in appearance".

Mr Cotter said: "I have heard the name of Christopher Aspey mentioned several times. He hasn't attended today although I had intended him to.

"He had been charged but the charge has been discontinued. That doesn't mean that is the end of it. He could be charged again with the same offence, causing Mr Sargeant's death by aggravated vehicle taking. I have allowed his name to be mentioned freely in court today. I am sure everybody in the neighbourhood knows Mr Aspey had been charged with this. In this case everybody except one has helped the police." In recording a verdict of unlawful killing he added: "It may not have been deliberate but it was a killing that did result from an unlawful killing."