THE man cleared of the manslaughter of Mark Ashworth in Bolton town centre today expressed his sorrow to the dead man's parents.

Following his acquittal, reported in the final edition of last night's BEN, on the charge of unlawfully killing Mark Ashworth, Simon Brookes, aged 21, spoke of his regret.

In a statement issued through his parents at the family home in Hawker Avenue, Great Lever .Mr Brookes said: "I am sorry any of this has happened. I am sorry for Mark's mother and father."

Threatened

He added: "I am glad that the court case is over and I just want to get on with the rest of my life."

Mr Ashworth died after he fell to the ground when he was struck by a single punch. Mr Brookes maintained throughout the Manchester Crown Court hearing that he was acting in self defence because he felt threatened.

Mr Ashworth's father Jim Ashworth, of Waverley Road, Astley Bridge, said: "All we ever wanted from the court proceedings was to find out exactly what happened on that night in Bolton town centre."

Mr Ashworth, aged 21, died in hospital two days after falling to the ground at the corner of Bridge Street and Deansgate on Good Friday last year.

Mr Brookes always maintained he acted in self-defence and told the court he had felt threatened by Mr Ashworth and a girl who was with him. Mr Ashworth senior also said a public 'thank you' to everyone who had supported the family since Mark's death.

He said: "I particularly want to thank everybody at the Toby Inn and the Carters Arms."

Mark, who was described as a "gentle giant" by his friends, used to play for the Sunday league football team at the Toby Inn, Edgworth, and regulars from the Carters Arms, Belmont Road hosted a mini-football contest playing for the Mark Ashworth Memorial Trophy.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.