Police officer arrested over 'spilt pint murder'

A police officer was last night questioned on suspicion of murdering a 42-year-old dad who died following a Merseyside pub brawl. The force confirmed a 26-year-old off-duty officer was questioned in relation to the death of Christopher Shackleton, of Formby, who died yesterday morning in hospital.

The fight at the popular Freshfield pub in Massam’s Lane, Formby, on Saturday night was believed to have started as a row over a spilt pint. A police spokesman said: “We can confirm the man arrested in connection with the incident at the Freshfield pub is a serving Merseyside police officer.



“The officer was off duty at the time of the incident. The incident has been voluntarily refered to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.”

The officer was released on bail late last night pending further police inquiries. Police said they believed “a number of men” were involved in the disturbance at the weekend, which resulted in Mr Shackleton being admitted to Southport hospital, where he died yesterday morning.