This Is Guernsey

By Zoe Ash

PC Richard Vahey, left, and DC Gregg Stuart outside the Albion House Tavern late yesterday afternoon, exactly a week after an incident that led to the death of 46-year-old tiler Gary Allen. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0881984)

POLICE yesterday stepped up their search for witnesses to an incident in St Peter Port that led to a man’s death.

A week to the hour after an alleged assault on tiler Gary Allen, police were back at the scene. Five officers were stationed near the Town Church between 4.30 and 6pm hoping to find more witnesses.

The 46-year-old died in Southampton General Hospital on Friday night.

Alan Baker, 23, who has given police an address in Doyle Road, St Peter Port, has been charged with manslaughter.

Detective Sergeant Kieran McGrath, deputy senior investigating officer in the case, said it had been a useful exercise.

He said they were still looking for one witness in particular to come forward.

‘She identified herself as a nurse at the time of the incident and had been walking through.

‘She checked his condition and position and stayed with him until the ambulance arrived a short time later. We would like to speak to her,’ said Mr McGrath.

Police were hoping to speak to people whose routine took them past the scene late on Wednesday afternoon last week.

The incident took place at around 5.30pm.

Mr McGrath said they had spoken to a number of people who had been in the area to the front of the Albion House Tavern at the time of the alleged assault.

‘We are looking for anyone who may have been passing who can offer anything relevant.

‘A lot of people may have seen something but thought it was not important and didn’t want to bother us, but we are trying to identify as many people as we possibly can,’ said Mr McGrath.

He said they already had witnesses but were keen to speak to get as full a picture of events as possible.

Mr Allen was born in Nottinghamshire and had family ties in Leicestershire. He had a girlfriend in Guernsey and had been working both here and in Jersey on and off for between six and seven years.

Guernsey police are working on the investigation with the Hampshire and Leicester forces.

An inquest will be held in Southampton.

Mr Baker is due in court tomorrow.

If you have any information about the incident last Wednesday evening, contact the police on 725111.

Article posted on 3rd December, 2009 - 2.30pm