Three Rishton teenagers in court over Blackburn man's death (From Blackburn Citizen)

Three Rishton teenagers in court over Blackburn man's death

5:40pm Tuesday 7th July 2009

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THREE teenagers have appeared before magistrates charged in connection with the death of a 24-year-old in Blackburn town centre.

A 16-year-old youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with the manslaughter of Adam Rogers, Blackburn Magistrates heard.

Jonathan David Seal, 19, of Cliff Street, is charged with assaulting Christopher Rutherford and Antonio Ruiz-Clough, 19, of Bridge Street, is charged with assaulting Nick Ellarby causing him actual bodily.

The trio, who are all from Rishton, are jointly charged with violent disorder following the incident on Northgate in the early hours of Sunday morning.

All matters were directed to be heard at Preston Crown Court. The two 19-year-olds were remanded on bail pending the preparation of committal papers with conditions of residence and curfew between 10 pm and 6 am.

The 16-year-old was remanded on bail with conditions of residence at a relative’s address in Derbyshire, electronically monitored curfew between 6pm and 6am, application of the Youth Offending Service’s Intensive Supervision and Surveillance programme.

He must not enter Lancashire except to attend court or for pre-arranged appointments with his solicitor.

Adam Rogers, 24, had been with university friends during the early hours of yesterday when police said there was an incident behind the Gladstone memorial near King George's Hall.

His parents, David and Patricia Rogers, of Dukes Brow, Blackburn, flew back from holiday in Malta to be at his bedside at the Royal Blackburn Hospital, where he was placed on a life-support machine.

Tests, however, showed no brain activity and the family made the decision to switch the machine off at 2.30pm.

Adam, who had been working temporarily for a local coach company, was a former pupil of St Bede's RC High School in Blackburn and studied sport at Lancaster University.

He had recently returned to the family home from the Lake District after splitting with his girlfriend.

Northgate was sealed off by police yesterday morning as they looked for vital forensic evidence.

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