POLICE were last night questioning a second man following an incident in a market town's busy shopping centre which ended in the death of a well known local character.
Michael Marshall - known locally as Little Elvis - died in hospital on Tuesday evening, more than two hours after he was assaulted at Morpeth’s £35m Sanderson Arcade shopping centre.
Mr Marshall, 52, who lived alone in a bungalow in the Stobhill area of the town, was well known as an Elvis Presley devotee who regularly sang at karaoke sessions in local pubs and clubs.
It is understood he also often travelled to Newcastle to indulge his passion for karaoke in city centre pubs.
He had gone shopping in Morpeth town centre at about 3pm on Tuesday and became involved in a verbal altercation in Sanderson Arcade. The argument continued near the town’s bus station, where Mr Marshall was assaulted and left unconscious on the ground at about 3.30pm.
He was taken to Wansbeck General Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 5.42pm. Northumbria Police launched an investigation after being alerted to the circumstances by hospital staff at 6.30pm.
A 55-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, but last night Northumbria Police revealed he had been released with no further action.
A 49-year-old man was last night helping police with their inquiries after he was also arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
