THE family of a Merseyside man who was killed at a Banbury pub have failed in an attempt to use a 300-year-old law to prosecute a group of men.

The Crown Prosecution Service said it would not bring a prosecution using joint enterprise law over the death of Kevin Lavelle, 29, at the Cricketer’s Arms, in Middleton Road, in 2004.

Mr Lavelle got into a fight with a group of men and died after being struck with a dumb-bell.

A joint enterprise prosecution would mean all of the men involved in the fight could face jail, if it was proved one of them intended to kill or cause serious harm. A 2006 criminal prosecution against Ceri Noble, of Pontygaith, South Wales, collapsed after a judge said it was impossible to say who struck the fatal blow.

District crown prosecutor Rebecca Mundy said joint enterprise had been considered at the time. She added: “Based on the evidence available to CPS following the police investigation we were satisfied that there was a realistic prospect of conviction against only one person, Ceri Noble.”

Det Insp Steve Duffy, of Thames Valley Police, said: “We believe that there is someone out there who knows who his killer was.

“They need to do the right thing and come forward and help us to bring them to justice.”

There is a £30,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in the case.

Anyone with information should call Mr Duffy on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.