Family of young man stabbed to death in nightclub set to meet with minister over push for change
The family of a young man who was stabbed to death in a nightclub are to meet with a government minister as part of their push for a change in the law to force juries to give reasons for their verdicts.
Justice minister Alex Chalk has agreed to meet the family of Ryan Passey next week to hear their reasons for why changes are needed, in what would be a landmark ruling for the criminal justice system in Britain.
They feel they were on the receiving end of a “perverse” jury decision when the man accused of murdering Mr Passey, 24, at Chicago’s in Stourbridge was cleared, and insist there is no recourse in the event of acquittals.
The family are in the course of launching civil proceedings against Kobe Murray, who was cleared of murder at a 2018 trial. He admitted stabbing Mr Passey, of Quarry Bank, but said he did so in self-defence.
They have also hired private investigators and hope fresh evidence could result in a re-trial.
Friend and family spokesman Jason Connon said the Passeys wanted to ensure other families do not suffer as they have. Mr Passey’s loved ones believe in cases where there is thought to be a perverse jury verdict, the jury should explain why they have reached their decision.
If those reasons are not deemed to be sound, there could then be scope for a challenge.
Mr Connon told the Express & Star: “The campaign is not only to get justice for Ryan, we’re looking to get a change in the law to protect other families from going through what we are suffering.
“Guilty verdicts can be appealed. That mechanism doesn’t exist for acquittals. We want to be able to understand how juries approach evidence.
"They may well have ignored the evidence, they may well have flipped a coin, I don’t know.
“We’ve said all along families deserve answers. The jury is the last bastion of a public body that doesn’t give reasons.
"We just feel in the modern world we live in today that isn’t right.
“Things go wrong in our courtrooms, as history has shown.”
A Justice for Ryan campaign has helped to raise thousands of pounds for legal costs to fight the civil battle, which will cost up to £100,000.
Civil action can only result in damages but the public recognition would be crucial for the family.
