THE uncle of two men serving life for a brutal axe killing was today (Thursday, July 17) cleared of trying to scare witnesses in the murder case.

Harry Brogden clapped and shouted "go on" after being acquitted of intimidation following a two-day trial at Teesside Crown Court.

His nephews Anthony Middleton and David Sowerby were last month jailed for life for the killing of former boxer Mark Denton in Hartlepool.

Mr Brogden was alleged to have confronted one prosecution witness at her home. It was said he also stared through the windows at the home of another woman.

Mr Denton, 31, at one time one of the country’s best amateur middleweight boxers, was repeatedly attacked with a camping axe at the party.

Mr Brogden admitted his family was "in bits" about the killing, and said he was "on guard" because of tensions running high and threats to his relatives.

He admitted going to the home of the first complainant and making a threat - but said it was directed towards her partner over another matter.

During his evidence today, Mr Brogden told the jury that he had never stopped outside the home of the other woman and stared at her through a window.

The panel of eight women and four men took less than two hours to find him not guilty two charges of witness intimidation in January this year.

Mr Brogden, of Howard Street, Hartlepool, had been behind bars on remand since his arrest, but will be immediately freed once his paperwork has been completed.