Coghlan was cleared of killing 32 year old David Barnshaw who was burnt to death in a car in September 1999. The prosecution had claimed Barnshaw was the victim of a "gangland execution" connected to the Manchester drugs trade.

Mr Barnshaw and another man were allegedly kidnapped in the car park of the Moss Rose pub, Norris Bank. It was alleged that Mr Barnshaw was tied up and doused with petrol before the car was set alight with him in it.