POLICE chiefs have defended the decision to fly officers to South Korea as part of an £80,000 'murder' investigation into a man who died after falling over drunk.

The week-long trip cost more than £6,000 and was one of three overseas journeys made by officers probing the death of Polish immigrant Krzyzstof Stalmach.

He was found on Springfield Street with several injuries in November 2006 and a murder investigation was launched.

Mr Stalmach, 36, of Hopwood Street, had not been murdered but died after stumbling and cracking his skull, an inquest ruled last month. He had been drinking all day and was the victim of a 'minor assault' prior to falling and suffering fatal injuries.

As many as 40 detectives were involved in investigating his death and followed 800 lines of enquiry, took 136 witness statements, arrested seven suspects and sent officers to Poland twice and two officers went to South Korea to visit a mobile phone manufacturer.

In the face of criticism Det Ch Supt Steve Talbot this week said: "The enquiries in Poland and South Korea were entirely necessary."

The Taxpayers' Alliance disagrees. Chief executive Matthew Elliott said: "This particular case has proved to be a fiasco.

"If there were suspicious circumstances then they should have been followed up but it seems excessive to send officers to South Korea for a week. If that trip was really necessary, one officer would have been sufficient."

Full story in this week's Chronicle