7 August 2012 Last updated at 11:32 ET

Anthony Owen: Ex-surgeon manslaughter charge dropped

Anthony Owen was found lying on the ground near his car

A teenager accused of killing a retired surgeon has had charges against him dropped after evidence emerged supporting his self-defence claim.

Anthony Owen, 68, was found lying next to his car near his home in Hale Road, Hale Village, Cheshire, last March.

He suffered serious head injuries and died six days later.

The CPS said it had dropped a manslaughter charge against a 17-year-old boy following a pathologist report.

The teenager, who was 16 at the time of the incident, cannot be named for legal reasons.

Two other youths, aged 14 and 17 at the time, who were also at the scene, were earlier released without charge due to insufficient evidence.

Rachael Barber, a Senior Crown Prosecutor, said: "After very careful consideration of all the evidence in this case, including new evidence which has recently been presented, I have decided not to continue the case against a 17-year-old youth in connection with the death of Anthony Owen.

"The youth was originally charged with manslaughter on the basis that there was a reasonable suspicion he had committed the offence and there were grounds for believing that the continuing investigation would provide further evidence to support the prosecution."

No convictions

She added: "Since then new evidence has been presented, including the final pathologist's report which indicates that the injuries to the victim were consistent with the victim suffering one blow to the face.

"The pathologist's report provides supporting evidence for the defendant's version of events - that he was acting in self defence."

Ms Barber said the youth had volunteered himself to police and has no previous convictions.

She said the CPS had met with Mr Owen's family to explain the decision to them.

Police were alerted to the incident, which happened shortly before 22:30 GMT on 11 March, by a passing motorist.

Officers found Mr Owen next to his car with serious head injuries.

He was taken to the Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Liverpool but died later from his injuries.

Mr Owen was a consultant general surgeon, whose expertise included breast cancer and keyhole surgery.