FIVE boxing fans -- including one from Bury -- have been formally cleared of unlawfully killing a man crushed to death under a coach outside Oldham Sports Centre in February.

In the third week of a Manchester Crown Court trial, prosecutor Malcolm Swift said the Crown was unable to prove the men were guilty of manslaughter.

He told Mr Justice Holland that the Crown would not proceed further on that charge, having carefully reviewed the evidence.

It had to be shown that the coach driver drove off because he believed there was no other course open to him to protect the lives and wellbeing of his passengers and himself.

The evidence fell far short of that, and, accordingly, the manslaughter charge was no longer tenable.

They were found not guilty on the judge's direction, and four of the five admitted a linked offence of violent disorder.

They were bailed and will be sentenced next month after reports have been prepared.

They are Paul Derbyshire, 28, of Sunnybank Road, Bury; Stephen Derbyshire, 19, of Southdown Crescent, Blackley, Manchester, who are related; John Niland, 20, of Culcheth Lane, Newton Heath, Manchester; and Gary Moore, 36, of Bush Street, Monsall, Manchester.

The trial of the fifth man Paul Brown, 27, of Keyhaven Walk, Collyhurst, Manchester, along with Stephen Brown, 34, of Aylestone Walk, and John Smith, 32, of Benson Street, both Moston, Manchester, is continuing on the violent disorder charge, which they deny.

An eighth defendant -- they are all from Greater Manchester -- Adrian Barron, aged 23, of Olive Street, Heywood, has admitted that offence. He was bailed and will also be sentenced next month.

Dean Fisher, 31, from Hackney, London, died minutes after watching a friend win a Commonwealth boxing title.

He and others travelled from London to support middleweight Jason Matthews but were later attacked by the Manchester group.

They and their coach driver were faced by a screaming mob throwing missiles and hammering an the parked vehicle.

Mr Fisher was a straggler and not involved in any trouble.

He was set upon as he walked to the coach. Punched and kicked, he ended up under the coach close to the front wheels.

The driver, urged to drive on by frightened passengers, did so not knowing Mr Fisher was under the coach. He was crushed to death.

The jury has studied photographs and a compilation video of footage from CCTU cameras at the centre.