THE Burnley sister of a former paratrooper who died in police custody is outraged that the officers charged in connection with his death will have their case heard in Middlesbrough.

Most of Christopher Alder's family live in Hull, his children are in London and his sister Janet, who has led the campaign for justice into his death, lives in the Manchester Road area of Burnley.

When the five officers appeared on misconduct charges at Hull Crown Court it was announced the trial will be in Middlesbrough.

A spokesman for the CPS said the trial had been switched at the request of the defence.

Christopher Alder died in the custody suite of Queens Gardens Police Station in Hull on April 1 1998. He was 37 and had two sons.

The family have said the venue for the trial will prove both costly and inconvenient for those wishing to see justice done.

Janet said: "We are outraged at this decision to try these officers in a town where all Christopher's family and friends will have costly and difficult travel to reach.

"We will be there wherever they hold the trial, to see that justice is done."

Last year the jury at a seven-week inquest, the longest in British legal history, recorded a unanimous verdict of unlawful killing.

The jury watched a video of Christopher's last 11 minutes. The police could be seen chatting and joking while Christopher died.

The police officers sought a judicial review on the jury's verdict, but it was upheld in the High Court in London in April.

The five officers have been charged with misconduct in a public office. The Campaign for Justice for Christopher Alder is continuing to call for the officers to face a manslaughter charge but the Crown Prosecution Service decided in April not to lay further charges.

The campaign is calling on the Home Secretary David Blunkett to move the case from Middlesbrough to either Hull or Leeds and for a full and open public inquiry to be held into all aspects of Christopher's death.