BEATLES - IS LENNON TO BLAME FOR SUTCLIFFE'S DEATH?

The sister of original BEATLES star STUART SUTCLIFFE has reignited claims a beating by JOHN LENNON caused his fatal brain haemorrhage.

PAULINE SUTCLIFFE, the sister of the musician and artist who died in 1962, claims the IMAGINE star caused the haemorrhage that killed him by "viciously kicking him in the head in a sustained and unprovoked attack".

Pauline believes Lennon caused the fatal injury after he assaulted the man often dubbed the 'Fifth Beatle' "in a jealous rage", and contends the pair were once embroiled in a homosexual affair.

The alleged evidence for her claims stem from a sketchbook of Stuart's from the time of the supposed incident - which Pauline is offering at auction later this month (JUL03) - showing signs of his mental deterioration after the reported fight.

But movie-maker ALAN CLAYSON - who co-wrote the movie BACKBEAT with Pauline, which focused on Stuart's time in the Beatles - has dismissed her claim.

He says, "She and I concluded that Stuart wasn't beaten up by John Lennon - his condition was brought on by an overuse of amphetamines."

Clayson adds Sutcliffe was in a 1961 fight, but insists Lennon helped fend off his attackers.