HERE'S a round-up of some of the biggest court cases to have taken place in Carlisle and West Cumbria this week.
Not guilty: jury clears west Cumbrian man of manslaughter
A JURY has delivered a not guilty verdict in the case of a west Cumbrian man who was accused of manslaughter.
After deliberating for five hours and 43 minutes, jurors at Carlisle Crown Court cleared 31-year-old Lewis Knight of unlawfully killing Marc Wright, who prosecutors said died because he was punched in a row over a £100 debt.
Murder accused appeared to be 'in shock and disbelief,' jury told
JURORS in the murder trial of Whitehaven man Paul Irwin have heard the 999 call he made following his on-off partner's fatal collapse.
The 50-year-old defendant repeatedly shouted the first name of Tiffany Render as the call-handler explained the CPR resuscitation technique.
Man caught drug-driving a Mercedes van on the M6 had been to a music festival
A DRUG-driver travelling home from a music festival was caught out after police spotted defective rear lights on his van.
Benjamin Alan Strafford, 41, came to the attention of officers heading south on the M6 between Penrith and Carlisle on Monday, June 17 this year. Strafford was also travelling southbound behind the wheel of a Mercedes Vito van.
Grandmother who 'everyone adored' died during surgery after weeding accident
A GREAT-GRANDMOTHER died during hip surgery after she tripped and fell in her garden in Carlisle while on her way to pull up a weed, an inquest has heard.
Doreen Mackenzie, 87, died in the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle on July 12, 2024, after her heart stopped while undergoing an arthroplasty to treat a left neck of femur fracture.
Police officer accused of 'pursuing improper relationship'
A POLICE officer will face a misconduct hearing over allegations of 'pursuing an improper relationship'.
PC Mark McKirdy is accused of taking advantage of his position as a constable within Cumbria Police to pursue 'a sexual or improper emotional relationship' between July and November 2022.
Carlisle patient in court for assaulting two hospital workers in four days
A CARLISLE inpatient assaulted two hospital workers in the space of just four days.
Joshua Milne, 30, was brought before city magistrates on Tuesday (November 12) following an incident at the Carleton Clinic, Cumwhinton Drive, on 20th November last year.
One of the men accused of felling 'Sycamore Gap' tree is 'too ill to appear in court'
ONE of the men charged with felling the famous Sycamore Gap tree and causing more than £620,000 of damage was too ill to appear before a judge.
Adam Carruthers, 32, of Church Street, Wigton, Cumbria, watched Monday’s 20 minute pre-trial hearing at Newcastle Crown Court via his mobile phone.
Thief had been 'ostracised' after being suspected of 'very serious' crime
A SHOPLIFTER who carried out a spate of alcohol thefts was struggling with being ‘ostracised’ after he was accused of a serious crime.
Deri Hendren, 39, stole hundreds of pounds worth of booze from a Workington supermarket over a three-day period.
Victim of 'serious assault' died six months later due to drugs - inquest
A CORONER has concluded that the death of a Cockermouth man who 'felt like a prisoner in his own home', after being the victim of a violent assault six months earlier was drug-related.
Andrew Sisson, 38, was found dead in his flat by police on July 8, 2024, after being alerted by his sister, who was concerned for his safety after not hearing from him for over a week.
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