Probe into police investigation over fatal club stabbing
Man was acquitted of murdering clubber
WEST Yorkshire Police is to carry out a review of an independent inquiry into the killing of a young man in a Midland nightclub.
The family of Ryan Passey have welcomed the move as a “big step forward” after a man accused of murdering him five years ago was acquitted at trial.
West Yorkshire Police will lead the inquiry into the actions of West Midlands Police detectives who investigated the death.
West Midland Police chiefs agreed to an inquiry following pressure from the Passey family.
The 24-year-old amateur footballer was stabbed to death at Chicago’s nightclub in Stourbridge in 2017.
His family called for the original investigation to be reviewed after the acquittal.
But West Midlands Police maintained its probe was sound and that the evidence presented in court was strong enough to secure a conviction.
Mr Passey’s father, Ade, from Quarry Bank, insisted the family had a right to know whether the best possible investigation was carried out for his son, who died after trouble flared between two groups at the town centre club.
Kobe Murray, 19 at the time, was cleared by a jury of murder and manslaughter. He admitted stabbing Mr Passey but said he did so in selfdefence, an argument accepted by
jurors who found him not guilty.
Mr Passey, mother Gill Taylor and stepfather Phil Taylor met with West Midlands Police chiefs last Friday to discuss the latest developments and are now set to meet with the Yorkshire force.
It comes after Mr Murray was ordered to pay damages to the family in November for causing Mr Passey’s death.
Family friend and spokesman Jason Connon said: “We feel Friday was another big step forward for Ryan’s parents Ade, Gill and Phil and in our campaign. We now look forward to meeting with West Yorkshire Police and the independent review beginning.”
Stourbridge MP Suzanne Webb, who has supported the family’s campaign, said: “This was a really positive meeting that set out how the review will take place, its parameters and, crucially, that a force has been assigned to undertake it.
“I made it clear in the meeting that West Midlands Police and West Yorkshire Police need to be transparent with Ryan’s family about what is happening at every turn.
“That means regular updates and meetings to discuss progress. This has already been a long journey for this courageous family.”
When it was announced there was to be a review, West Midlands Police said it hoped it would provide the family with “reassurance that all investigative and evidential opportunities were taken”.