Pete Doherty has broken his silence once again regarding the tragic death of aspiring actor Mark Blanco, insisting that he had no role in the fatal fall from a balcony that claimed Mark’s life.
The incident, which occurred back in December 2006, has remained a source of controversy, with questions still lingering about the circumstances surrounding Mark’s death.
The Night of the Fall and Pete’s Denial
Mark, who was 30 years old at the time, fell from a balcony of a property in Whitechapel, East London, where Pete was attending a party.
The Libertines frontman, now 45, has consistently denied having any knowledge of how Mark fell.
He has admitted, however, that he fled the scene to avoid a potential run-in with the police over drugs he was in possession of.
Speaking to Kirsty Young on BBC Radio 4’s Young Again show, Pete firmly stated, “I didn’t kill him.
I didn’t throw him out of a window, off a balcony. What do you want me to say?”
CCTV Footage and Mark’s Mother’s Heartbreak
CCTV footage from the night in question shows Pete, his girlfriend Kate Russell-Pavier, and his “minder” Jonathan Jeannevol walking past Mark’s lifeless body, then fleeing the scene.
The video was later shown in the 2023 Channel 4 documentary Pete Doherty, Who Killed My Son?, which was watched by Mark’s mother, Sheila Blanco.
She shared her devastation, describing the footage as a “crucial piece of evidence” that reveals Mark being thrown over the balcony railing.
She was particularly disturbed by the sight of Pete stepping over her son’s body before running away.
Sheila’s pain was palpable as she described the moment: “It is absolutely callous, reprehensible lack of humanity.”
Her grief was compounded by Pete’s apparent lack of remorse for fleeing the scene, a point that was highlighted in the documentary and in Pete’s own interviews.
Pete Reflects on the Incident and His Regrets
During an appearance on Louis Theroux’s podcast, Pete reflected on the events that led up to Mark’s tragic death.
While he denied pushing Mark from the balcony, he admitted that the whole situation was “shady” and “f***ed up.”
Pete confessed that his decision to run from the scene was driven by his fear of being arrested for drug possession, rather than any concern for the dying actor.
He openly admitted that he regretted fleeing, acknowledging that it made him look callous.
“I probably should have stood my ground, taken a deep breath and had the fing balls to stay there,” Pete said, expressing regret for not facing the police and handling the situation differently.
He also added, “It was a fing inconvenience to me,” acknowledging how selfish his reaction had been in such a tragic moment.
Sheila Blanco’s Anger and Pete’s Response
While Pete expressed understanding for Sheila’s anger over her son’s death, he also believed that her anger towards him was misplaced.
He mentioned that he could empathize with her grief, but he was frustrated that people who weren’t present at the scene were disputing the facts of the night.
He continued, “No one knows what happened because no one saw it. I certainly didn’t see it.”
Pete also admitted to having some personal friction with Mark, explaining that there had been an altercation between them earlier that evening.
“There was a bit of friction between us. There was pushing and shoving.
The next thing he’s on the floor and his skull’s cracked open,” Pete recalled, suggesting that their relationship had been strained prior to the tragic fall.
Pete’s Legal Troubles and His Longstanding Addiction
The rockstar’s struggles with addiction have long been public, and Pete reflected on how his history of legal issues and drug use influenced his behavior that night.
He explained that his fear of being caught with drugs made him act in a way he later regretted.
He also admitted that his relief when the police finally believed his account of the events was overwhelming, as he had been living in constant fear of being arrested.
Despite the many questions left unanswered, Pete’s recent comments shed light on the tragic events of that night and his internal conflict.
While he has always denied responsibility for Mark’s death, his candid reflection on the situation has added further complexity to an already tragic story.