Former skydiver suspect 'quit UK'

Adrian Blair (left) is now living in Canada

A skydiving friend of Stephen Hilder dropped out of university and moved to Canada in the wake of being named as a murder suspect, his mother said.

Adrian Blair had a "tremendous weight on his shoulders", which forced him to quit his degree at the Royal Military College, Shrivenham, Oxfordshire.

His mother, Hilarie, now wants to know why it took police so long to clear her son and his friend, David Mason.

Mr Hilder died after his chutes failed over Hibaldstow Airfield in July 2003.

Mr Blair, of Dobwalls, Cornwall, and Mr Mason, of Cambridge, were both released from bail conditions by Humberside Police in January.

The 20-year-olds, who were arrested in October 2003, are keen skydivers who had accompanied the Hereford skydiver on his fatal jump in North Lincolnshire.

My thoughts are with Steve's family, and have been throughout this Hilarie Blair

Mrs Blair said that police have told them they are no longer suspects and she is now expecting them to be publicly cleared.

"The papers implied that they were guilty, but anyone who knows him has never doubted he was innocent.

"It is a total mystery to me why they did not get this forensic evidence right at the beginning, and why two totally innocent boys were arrested and put through what they were put through when they had not one scrap of evidence."

She said that although it had been a tough time for her son, her thoughts were with Mr Hilder's family.

Mrs Blair added: "It has been difficult for Adrian. It has been a tremendous weight on his shoulders.

"My thoughts are with Steve's family, and have been throughout this."