THERE were angry and emotional scenes at Chester Crown Court last Thursday when the verdict was returned.

After the foreman of the jury announced Liam McCann was not guilty of murder after one and a half days of deliberation, more than 30 family and friends of Alan Davies walked out.

They shouted at the defendant as he stood in the dock and the young woman foreman and another juror began to cry.

Mr Justice Edwards told the jury of six men and six women: "It can't have been easy for you to have to give your verdicts in this sort of atmosphere.

"However, you have listened carefully to the evidence and you have done your duty by returning the verdict you felt appropriate."

He apologised to them for the "disgraceful scenes" but said in fairness it was "a moment of high emotion for both families."

l LIAM McCann's father was murdered in Widnes six years ago.

Brendan McCann was stabbed to death in Victoria Square.

Christopher George Thomas, of no settled address, was jailed for life for killing Mr McCann on September 26, 1997.

Thomas was sitting in Victoria Square with his girlfriend having drunk more than two litres of cider when Mr McCann, 41, and his friend David Mellor, 38, walked past.

A dispute started and when Mr McCann went to help Mellor after he was knocked over, he was stabbed through the heart.