ONE year on from Jock Straiton’s death, his son is calling for police to reopen the investigation and find the third killer.

Adam Gerrard, 17, said his family cannot rest until the man seen jumping on his dad’s head outside his flat in Winnington is brought to justice.

Joshua Spruce and Nigel Goolding, both 20, were handed life sentences in March for the grandad’s murder, while Paul Blower, 20, was found not guilty.

During the five-week trial jurors heard how the three were walking home from a 40th birthday party at Winnington Rec on Friday, July 26, 2008, when an argument started between Jock and one of their friends over noise.

After making two calls to police, the former taxi-driver decided to leave his home and confront the group armed with a hammer, but was savagely beaten by Spruce and Goolding.

A passing motorist saw a third man – which prosecutors tried to argue was Paul Blower – run out from the bushes and jump two-footed onto Jock’s head but no-one has ever been arrested for it.

Jock suffered a major bleed on the brain and died two weeks later on August 9.

Adam, who is currently serving as an Army cadet in Weymouth, said it is time for people to do the right thing and come clean.

He said: “Obviously there is someone who saw who jumped on my dad’s head. There were a lot of people coming out of that pub and people talk to each other.

“They are cowards and they should say something. My dad was taken away and until the third person is caught then I will carry on.

“When the first three (Goolding, Spruce and Blower) were arrested, we thought, ‘great, they have got them’, and we got some closure.

“But when Paul Blower was found not guilty it brought it all back. We had assumed the police had got the right lads but suddenly that wasn’t true any more.

“There is someone walking free out there who killed my dad. They took his life and they should not be allowed to get away with that.”

“Even the Judge said there was a third man involved, but the police won’t reopen the case and I can’t understand why.”

Adam stayed at his dad’s flat every weekend but decided not to on that fateful that night as he was supposed to be going away with the cadets.

He said: “My sister Lindsay came banging on the door the next morning and told me something bad had happened so I rang the hospital and found out he had had a cardiac arrest.

“I was shocked and in tears, I didn’t know what to do. When I walked into the ward I couldn’t even tell which one was my dad – it wasn’t him lying there at all.

“We spent as much time with him as we could but one night the hospital rang and told me to get there as fast as I could but he had already died by then.

“My sister drove and I remember trying to stay strong for her but I couldn’t help but cry.”

The family scattered Jock’s ashes at a secluded spot on the River Weaver, but rather than visit the spot, Adam said he plans to spend a few minutes on his own just thinking about his dad on August 9.

“He was just a really loving man, he was never serious about anything unless he had to be. We miss him all day, every day. And someone did that to us and they deserve to be punished.”

A spokeswoman for Cheshire Police said: “No new evidence has come to light since the conclusion of the trial or since Jock’s death in July last year that would enable police to further enquiries into this investigation, or arrest any other individuals.

A thorough and meticulous criminal investigation was conducted following Jock’s death. Every line of enquiry was explored, and a complete file of evidence presented to to the court.

“Two men were convicted of murder, a third acquitted.

“It is worth noting that Judge Roderick Evans passed comment at the point of sentencing, saying ‘There were a number of witnesses who said they saw and heard nothing when they clearly did. They said they couldn’t remember anything when the events of that night would have been seared on their memories. Those people will have a long time to consider’.

“Our thoughts have always been with the family of Jock who were supported throughout the criminal investigation and during the trial by a family liaison officer and we fully understand and sympathise with their loss.

“Should anyone feel they have any new information regarding the circumstances resulting in Jock’s death, we would urge them to contact police.

“Every piece of information passed to the major investigation team will be looked into. Information can be passed to police on 0845 458 0000 or anonymously via the Crimestoppers hotline 0800 555 111.”