THE sister of an ex-paratrooper who died in police custody has called for officers who looked after him to be charged with manslaughter.

A High Court Judge threw out the officers' appeal to overturn an inquest jury's verdict that 37-year-old father of two Christopher Alder was unlawfully killed.

Today his sister Janet, 39, who lives in the Manchester Road area of Burnley, said: "The judge was right and now we want justice. We want manslaughter charges brought against those responsible and a public inquiryThe judge said the coroner was right and awarded our barrister costs which vindicated our case. It is one step further in my battle for justice, now it is up to the CPS" She said her family had been through a traumatic time since Christopher died on the floor of the custody suite of Queen's Gardens Police Station, Hull, on April 1 1998.

He had earlier been involved in a disturbance outside a nightclub.

Janet added: "I will fight as long as it takes, I could never live with myself if I just walked away. I have to prevent anything like this happening to my son Nathan, or anyone else. We will just keep fighting for what is right."

A CPS spokesman said: "We are considering all the evidence and do not know at this stage if further charges will be made."

Five police officers are suspended from duty and face charges of misconduct in public office.