POLICE have renewed their appeal for witnesses to an incident in a Northumberland shopping centre that resulted in the death of a local man.
Michael Marshall, 52, was pronounced dead in hospital two hours after being assaulted and left unconscious on the ground outside the Sanderson Arcade in Morpeth town centre on Tuesday afternoon.
Mr Marshall, who was known locally as Little Elvis because of his passion for karaoke singing in pubs and clubs, went to the arcade at about 3pm and was attacked after getting involved in a verbal altercation with a man.
He was given first aid at the scene and taken to Wansbeck General Hospital, in Ashington, Northumberland, where he died at 5.42pm. Det Ch Insp Steve Binks, leading the investigation, said: “I would appeal for anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident, and who may have seen the altercation, to contact police.”
Police arrested a 49-year-old man on suspicion of manslaughter.
He has been released on bail and enquiries are continuing.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police on 03456 043043 ext 69191.
Mr Marshall, who lived alone in a bungalow in Stobhill, Morpeth, used to work as a window cleaner and was a former committee member at the town’s Comrades Club. He was well known as an Elvis Presley devotee and regularly took part in karaoke sessions at local pubs.
