Man cleared by jury found dead

Dec 8 2006 By Daniel Cochlin, The Journal

A man who was cleared by a jury of murdering a truck driver and injuring his son after an argument in a pub has been found dead.

Tony Hedley, 23, was tried for murder, manslaughter and wounding with intent at Newcastle Crown Court in August, after truck driver Lawrence Steel was stabbed eight times and his son, Craig, 23, also injured.

The attacks happened after an argument in the Wrekendyke pub in Gateshead, in January this year, and Mr Steel was found fatally wounded near his home in Aycliffe Crescent, Wrekenton. Mr Hedley was cleared of all charges by a jury.

On Wednesday, police were called to Mr Hedley's home in Charlotte Close, just off Scotswood Road, Elswick, and found his body.

Detectives have yet to establish how Mr Hedley died, but they said last night the death was not being treated as suspicious.

At the trial, the court heard how Mr Hedley got into a row with Lawrence Steel who, along with other customers, had told him to leave a barmaid alone.

Mr Hedley admitted fighting with the pair, but claimed he was acting in self-defence, having been set upon. Lawrence Steel, 44, died from massive blood loss after one of the wounds severed a major artery, while his son suffered four stab wounds.

During his trial Mr Hedley claimed the knife belonged to his former school friend, Craig, a claim the prosecution denied.

The jury heard Mr Hedley had been trying to rekindle a relationship with a barmaid and was told to stop by customers, including Lawrence Steel.

Words were exchanged between the pair before Craig Steel emerged from the toilets and butted Mr Hedley for arguing with his father. He then left the pub followed by Mr Hedley, who claimed he approached Craig Steel to apologise. But a fight broke out and Craig was stabbed four times. His father left the pub to look for his son and was also stabbed.