Teenager cleared of pub murder

A 19-year-old man accused of killing a teenager in a pub has been cleared of murder after a witness withdrew his evidence in court.

Andrew Ferrie, of St John's Place, Corby, was accused of stabbing 18-year-old Lee Wright in June 2002 - just minutes after England's beat Argentina in a World Cup match.

Ferrie pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of wounding with intent after the court heard that the fatal blow to 18-year-old Lee Wright was delivered by Ferrie's friend Thomas McKinnon.

McKinnon, 20, had earlier pleaded guilty to murdering Mr Wright and was to be the prosecution's main witness to the pair's actions on 7 June, 2002.

There is clear evidence that the fatal wound was caused before Andrew Ferrie inflicted such wounds on Lee Wright Prosecutor Nicholas Browne QC

But on Wednesday he refused to give evidence about details of the stabbing and withdrew his witness statement.

Nicholas Browne QC, prosecuting, told Northampton Crown Court : "The case against Andrew Ferrie, without the account of Thomas McKinnon, is fundamentally flawed and would be most unlikely to succeed in a court before a judge and jury.

"The fatal stab wound was inflicted by the chef's knife held at all times by Mr McKinnon.

"There is clear evidence that the fatal wound was caused before Andrew Ferrie inflicted such wounds on Lee Wright."

The court has heard that Ferrie and McKinnon stabbed Mr Wright in June 2002 in revenge for an earlier fight in February.

All three men had been watching England's 1-0 victory over Argentina at the White Hart pub in Corby, Northamptonshire.

Stabbed with chef's knife

McKinnon returned to his home in Waverley Avenue during the half-time break to pick up a two knives and even called a friend to arrange a getaway car before the attack took place at about 1530 GMT.

While Mr Wright was in the toilets of the pub McKinnon followed him and stabbed him a number of times with a chef's knife.

Mr Ferrie came in shortly after and stabbed the teenager with a bread knife.

The pair were then driven by a friend, Carl Langley, to his house where they washed blood and fingerprints from the knives and took showers to clean themselves.

Judge Charles Wide QC adjourned sentence on the pair to a later date.