Murder charges dropped over City death

The family of a barrister's clerk beaten to death in a City bar reacted angrily today after two men were cleared of murder at the Old Bailey.

Lee Cook, 21, was killed when a brawl broke out over a spilt drink at the Alibi bar in Shoe Lane last July.

Charges of murder and manslaughter against City of London police officer Adam Lowe, 26, were formally dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service today. Prosecution lawyers also accepted a not guilty plea to murder by product designer Ricky Maynard. However, Maynard, 27 of Woodford Green, admitted manslaughter and will be sentenced next month.

His victim's parents, Karen and Mick Cook, attacked the decision to accept the lesser charge. Mr Cook, of Harold Wood, Essex, worked as a barrister's clerk. Maynard hit him in the face which caused a rupturing of a vessel supplying blood to the brain.

Outside court, Mr and Mrs Cook said in a statement: "The initial charge of murder was the correct charge."

PC Lowe, of Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, remains suspended from duty pending a disciplinary hearing.