Ryan Passey: Father of footballer stabbed to death in nightclub ‘more confident than ever’ on justice for his son

For free actual time breaking information alerts despatched straight to your inbox enroll to our breaking information emails

Sign up to our free breaking information emails

The grieving father of a younger footballer stabbed to death in a nightclub seven years in the past says he’s extra confident than ever that the household “will get our day back in court for justice”.

Ryan Passey suffered a knife wound to the coronary heart throughout a dancefloor brawl whereas out with buddies contained in the packed Chicago’s venue in Stourbridge in 2017.

The 24-year-old was rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, however later died.

A yr later, Kobe Murray was tried for his homicide, however the then-19-year-old was acquitted by a jury of the cost, together with another rely of manslaughter. He admitted holding a knife, however stated he didn’t intend to hurt Ryan.

Since then, the household of Ryan – together with his father Ade, mom Gill and stepfather Phil – have been campaigning for justice for the younger man, described by them as “an amazing, bubbly 24-year-old who loved football, his family, friends and life”.

Last July, West Midlands Police relaunched its homicide investigation after an impartial evaluate by the West Yorkshire power outlined 18 suggestions, together with some relating to new strains of inquiry.

And final week, the power had a breakthrough with one of two potential witnesses coming ahead in response to a recent CCTV enchantment.

Mr Passey stated the brand new inquiry and his conversations with detectives on the case had planted renewed optimism in the household marketing campaign.

“We are more confident than ever that the West Yorkshire review along with new information obtained in the new investigation will mean we will have our day in court and we will finally achieve justice for my boy,” the 60-year-old stated.

Ryan grew up in Brierley Hill and ran his personal window cleansing enterprise. The footballer moved in with his father aged 17, and the pair grew to become like greatest buddies, stated Ade, attending sports activities matches and spending time collectively in and out of work.

Following his death, lots of of individuals turned out for his church funeral in Stourbridge, whereas extra than 50,000 have signed the household petition known as “Justice for Ryan”.

Speaking from his workplace, Ade stated: “He’d be here right now on his dinner break – saying hello, talking through things of the day. I think of him all the time, it never gets easier. No father should have to bury their own son.

“What I’ve learned is how to get strong and keep going. And that’s what we’re doing, we’ll never give up on seeking justice, or raising awareness of the tragic consequences of knife crime.

“Ryan’s sudden death leaves our lives empty and always wondering, what may have been?”

On the evening Ryan died, there have been extra than 600 individuals contained in the nightclub – but police say a big quantity of individuals didn’t come ahead. Detectives are nonetheless interesting for the second man in this month’s CCTV enchantment to ahead.

Mr Passey was on vacation in Devon when he obtained a telephone name telling him his son was injured.

He stated: “I drove for five hours to get back as quickly as I could. They said he was stable, but when I got up I found out the bad news. It’s hurts me to this day. You just expect your son to be at home, not in a hospital, dead.

“I wish more people would come forward. It was more than six years ago. They could make the difference for all of us and help bring this long saga to an end.”

The household have been supported by Stourbridge MP, Suzanne Webb OBE.

Last yr, talking in a debate in parliament on knife crime in the West Midlands, she claimed the acquittal of Mr Murray was a case of the jury reaching a “perverse verdict”, which is a call made in opposition to the burden of proof put ahead.

She stated: “How we can accept our justice system is fair when we accept that juries can make mistakes and wrongly convict, and there is a mechanism to appeal a wrongful conviction, and yet we do not accept that the jury can make a wrongful acquittal decision, and there is currently no mechanism for appeal.”

Meanwhile, the household are additionally working arduous to elevate consciousness over knife crime, finishing up visits to colleges and youth sports activities golf equipment in a bid to cease younger individuals carrying blades in the area.

Latest figures, present that in 2022/23, West Midlands Police recorded the very best charge of offences involving a knife in the nation.

DI Jim Church, main the police reinvestigation, stated: “Our focus is on Ryan’s family and we will continue to work with them as that investigation progresses.”