Sunday, May 8, 2011 6:30am ET by  
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Family may prosecute Pete Doherty over son’s death

The family of Mark Blanco may seek to prosecute rocker Pete Doherty over his possible role in the man’s fatal fall in December 2006.

Part-time actor Blanco had come to the flat of Paul Roundhill – arts scene figure and Doherty drug supplier – in order to invite the Libertine singer to his staging of Dario Fo’s ‘Accidental Death of an Anarchist’. An altercation ensued between Blanco, Roundhill and Doherty’s minder Johnny Jeannevol and, shortly afterwards, Blanco was found dead outside having fallen from a first-floor balcony. The pair admit to attacking him, but deny causing his death.

Blanco’s family have long insisted that Doherty and his entourage are somehow culpable in the death, but Scotland Yard have yet to bring any charges forward. The police this week are meeting with the family to discuss the possiblity of charges. If no action is taken, the family may bring private prosecution into the equation.

Michael Wolkind QC, who is representing the Blanco family, said that he thought it unlikely that prosecutions would come as a result of the investigation.

"Throughout their investigations, the police have suffered a severe allergy to finding crime, even though it is clear Mark was unlawfully killed," Wolkind said. "This week we will find out if they have overcome their shyness to prosecute."

Wolkind confirmed that the family would consider prosecution if the police rule out charges, saying: "It would be perverse if they escaped prosecution."

Watch CCTV footage of Doherty fleeing the scene after the incident below: