Judge discharges jury in trial of Mali Wright who is accused of killing Blackpool dad Daniel Allsop

A top judge has halted the trial of a man accused of murdering Blackpool dad David Allsop even before any evidence could be heard.

Judge Robert Altham discharged the jury in the case against Mali Wright on Day Two at Preston Crown Court citing “legal reasons”.

But he then ordered a new hearing to be launched with a fresh panel on April 22, telling the 29-year-old: “This trial is not going away. It is going to happen.

“I can’t see any reason why it shouldn’t happen in two weeks on Monday.”

The postponement came after long legal discussions involving the judge and both prosecution and defence barristers, without the jury present.

Wright, who has pleaded not guilty to murdering 38-year-old Mr Allsop, has been in custody since October and will remain behind bars awaiting the new trial.

The defendant, of no fixed address, is accused of assaulting Mr Allsop in Bethesda Road, Blackpool at around 4:30 in the afternoon of Monday October 2.

Mr Allsop later collapsed in the doorway of a McDonald’s restaurant in the resort, 700 yards away in Bank Hey Street.

He was rushed to hospital but died from his injuries two days later surrounded by his family.

A Home Office pathologist who carried out a post mortem examination said the cause of death was “blunt force trauma.”

Judge Altham, Preston’s Honorary Recorder, told the court he was concerned about the effect a delay would have on Mr Allsop’s family. Several relatives were in court to hear the case put off.

He said he was also concerned that if the trial was not ready to proceed on April 22 then it could take “month and months” for a new date to be fixed.

When the trial does eventually begin, it is estimated it could take at least five days and possibly up to three weeks.

Prosecution barrister Francis McEntee told the judge there were 151 witness statements to be considered – 15 of those witnesses are expected to be called to give evidence - and 146 exhibits, mostly documents, in the case.

The jury, which was sworn in on Tuesday, was called back into court to be told by Judge Altham: “For a reason I can’t go into . . . this (trial) is going to have to go off. So I am discharging you.”