THE family of a football fan from Darwen who died after appearing to head a bin at a football stadium face a three-week wait for the coroner’s verdict.

John Taylor was knocked unconscious by the 25lb bin, which was thrown by fellow fan Ryan Carlin at the start of the second half of Stoke City’s clash with Blackburn Rovers at the Britannia Stadium on February 6, 2010.

The 30-year-old bricklayer, of Avallon Way, died from severe head injuries in hospital.

North Staffordshire coroner Ian Smith adjourned the inquest into Mr Taylor’s death for two to three weeks to give him time to consider his verdict.

He will now decide whether the father-of-one’s death was the result of unlawful killing, or misadventure.

Mr Taylor’s family do not believe he tried to head the bin and their lawyer, Andrew Bridgman, argued that his death was the result of an unlawful act by Mr Carlin.

Comments unavailable on this story for legal reasons.