Man cleared of city street murder

Mr Bloodworth was found dead in the street

A Leicester man accused of beating a stranger to death in a city street has been cleared by a jury.

Neil Andrew Smith, 28, of Anstey Lane, was alleged to have murdered Eamonn Bloodworth, 46, on 18 October 2003.

The father-of-three, from Birstall, was found face down in a pool of blood at the junction of Ravensbridge Drive and Blackbrook Road in Leicester.

Police are considering whether to reopen the investigation into Mr Bloodworth's death.

No eyewitnesses

It had been claimed during the trial at Leicester Crown Court that Mr Smith attacked Mr Bloodworth after a furious row with an ex-girlfriend.

A post-mortem examination revealed the victim had been kicked and stamped to death, but there were no eyewitnesses to the attack.

The prosecution also alleged that Mr Smith confessed to the murder to four separate people in the months following Mr Bloodworth's death.

But a jury refused to accept the prosecution claims, returning a verdict of not guilty.

Independent review

Mr Smith's defence team had claimed it was more likely Mr Bloodworth had been killed during a robbery attempt by an unknown assailant.

The defendant denied confessing to anyone but was unable to explain why the prosecution witnesses had made up the allegations.

A spokesman from Leicestershire Constabulary said there is to be an independent review of the evidence surrounding the case before a decision is made on whether to reopen the investigation into the death.

Mr Bloodworth's family said they were saddened by the verdict.