Man acquitted of murder must pay family £10,000 for causing death
AMAN who was cleared of murdering an amateur footballer has been ordered to pay damages to his family for causing his death.
A judge has ruled Kobe Murray, who was acquitted of the murder and manslaughter of Ryan Passey, 24, must pay damages totalling nearly £10,000 after the family took action through the civil courts.
Mr Passey died after being stabbed through the heart at Chicago’s nightclub in Stourbridge in 2017.
Murray admitted stabbing him but said he did so in self-defence, an argument which was accepted by jurors who found him not guilty the following year.
The Passey family, from Quarry Bank, were left devastated by the verdict and vowed to continue campaigning.
Parents Gill Taylor and Ade Passey broke down when the judgment was given at Liverpool County Court.
Murray, 23, from Dudley, did not attend the hearing and no representation was made on his behalf, meaning a default judgment was made by the court.
The family claimed damages from Murray for “wrongfully and unlawfully causing Ryan’s death”, court documents seen by the Birmingham Post showed.
Judge Gregory ordered him to pay £5,865 in special damages and £1,750 in general damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity.
He must also pay £1,750 in aggravated damages – an unusual step – and cover £12,282 of the family’s court costs.
Father Mr Passey said: “It’s another step to where we want to get to for Ryan.
“This journey we are on, we have kept fighting and fighting. It’s massive.
“When we heard the news we were
so overwhelmed. We just broke down.
“We were never going to give up. This is a massive statement.”
Fighting back tears after the hearing, Mrs Taylor said: “The judge was so understanding.
“Finally getting something, it has been such a struggle.”
The judgment comes after it was recently announced West Midlands Police’s investigation into the Mr Passey’s death is to be reviewed by another force.
The keen footballer was out with friends when trouble flared between two groups in the club and Mr Passey was stabbed