A man accused of gunning down a love rival in the

A man accused of gunning down a love rival in the street walked free at the Old Bailey today (tue) after the case against him collapsed.

Chris Clarke, 23, was alleged to have blasted Howard Wright several times as he walked along a south London street with his girlfriend.

It was believed the fatal shooting followed a row over a lover.

But Clarke was today cleared after the court heard that new material has emerged which throws doubt on the case.

Jobless Mr Wright, 39, from Penge, was walking along Norwood High Street on August 12 last year when he was shot dead.

Girlfriend Asher McLaughlin picked an innocent member of the public out at an ID parade, but later told cops that Clarke was to blame.

But prosecutor Martyn Bowyer said: ‘The view of the Crown is there was a case against him and it was proper for him to be charged.

‘But material has come into the possession of the Crown which causes us to review the situation.

‘With considerable care, a decision has been taken at a very high level within the Crown Prosecution Service that, in the light of what is now known, there is not a realistic chance of a conviction against this defendant.

‘

Mr Bowyer added that the inquiry is not over, and that police will continue the probe into Mr Wright’s death.

Through his barrister Michael Wolkind, QC, Clarke told the court he was ‘not involved in any way’ with the killing.

Clarke, of Wightman Road, Harringay, north London, was formally cleared of murder when no evidence was offered.

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