A MAN who had a murder charge against his name dropped celebrated with a Peter Crouch-style robot dance in the dock.
Dean Betton, 32, of Raleigh Street, Radford, had been accused of murdering James Brodie.
He appeared at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday morning to have the news officially confirmed.
Mr Betton was the only one charged with murder, while two other men, aged 34 and 31 years, remain on bail pending further inquiries.
Shaun Smith QC, for the prosecution, told Mr Justice Flaux he had a conference with those who instruct him and he had advised them the matter should be discontinued.
He said such action was normally done by letter but, given publicity surrounding the case, it was important the court knew that proper decisions have been taken.
"It goes back to being a cold case at the moment," said Mr Smith.
On hearing that the murder charge had been dropped, Mr Betton grinned and looked up toward his family in court.
After the judge rose and left the courtroom, Mr Betton did a short celebratory robot dance – made famous by England footballer Peter Crouch – and told his family he would see them soon.
James Brodie had been hunted by police since the murder of jeweller Marian Bates, of Ravenshead, during a botched robbery at the Time Centre, in Arnold, on September 30, 2003.
Peter Williams, was 19 years old when he was jailed for 22 years after being convicted of her murder.
Stafford Crown Court heard in 2005 he took part in the robbery but that an accomplice, believed to be Brodie, actually fired the fatal shot.
As well as murder, he was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Bates, and possessing a firearm with intent.
In legal submissions before Williams' trial and held at Wolverhampton Crown Court, the judge heard Williams told police that Bestwood crime boss Colin Gunn was behind the raid. Gunn is in jail for plotting the murders of innocent Lincolnshire couple John and Joan Stirland in Trusthorpe, Lincolnshire, in 2004.
Mr Brodie has not made contact with family or friends for more than nine years.
In February this year police confirmed for the first time they believe he was murdered as they embarked of a search of land at Maize Farm, East Heckington, Lincolnshire, where they believed Mr Brodie might have been buried, but didn't find a body.
Notts detectives have previously travelled to Glasgow, searched a fish farm in Leicestershire, land near Flintham, near Newark, and flats in Top Valley and Bulwell over the years.
