Former Libertines and Babyshambles rocker Pete Doherty will not face criminal prosecution over the death of Mark Blanco, the 30-year-old actor who fell to his death from a balcony at a party in East London in 2006.
The Guardian reports that the Crown Prosecution Service found that there was insufficient evidence to bring any charges over Blanco’s death. Relatives of Blanco are reported to have reacted to the findings with anger.
Blanco died after a confrontation with Doherty, Doherty’s drug dealer Paul Roundhill and minder Johnny Jeannevol. All three deny any wrongdoing.
Jenny Hopkins, head of the CPS’s complex casework, said, “None of the evidence is capable of establishing to the required standard that Mr Blanco was thrown or pushed from the balcony or that any other individual was present at the time he fell.
“As we can neither establish that a criminal act may have taken place nor identify the likely perpetrator, we must conclude there is insufficient evidence to support a charge of murder or manslaughter.”
As previously reported, Blanco’s family may now launch a private suit against Doherty. Blanco was a friend of UK comedian Jimmy Carr, who has lent his weight to campaigns seeking into an inquiry into the death.
