Boost for family of young man stabbed in nightclub in push for jury law change

Relatives of Ryan Passey met with Justice Minister Alex Chalk last month to explain why they believe juries should give reasons for their decision in the event of perceived “perverse” verdicts.

Mr Chalk has now promised to take the matter further by raising it with the Lord Chancellor, providing a shot in the arm for the campaigning family.

They insist they have got no justice for Mr Passey, 24, who was knifed in the former Chicago's bar in Stourbridge in 2017. They are in the course of launching civil proceedings against Kobe Murray, who was cleared of murder. He admitted stabbing Mr Passey, of Quarry Bank, but said he did so in self-defence.

In court trials where a jury's verdict is felt to be unusual, they believe members should have to explain their decision to open the possibility of a challenge.

In his response to the family following October's meeting, which included Mr Passey's father Adrian and Stourbridge MP Suzanne Webb, Mr Chalk acknowledged any change would be huge for the criminal justice system. But there is hope their arguments are being taken seriously at the top of Government.

He wrote: "Your arguments for requiring juries to provide reasons for their decisions in criminal cases have been made very powerfully and I fully appreciate your desire to affect change which may help other families in similar situations.

"As I suggested in the meeting, your proposal has significant implications for the role of the jury in our criminal justice system and will need careful consideration. I will be discussing the matter further with the Lord Chancellor at the first available opportunity."

Friend and family spokesman Jason Connon said the minister's response had left them feeling "cautiously optimistic".

The family have also hired private investigators and hope fresh evidence could result in a re-trial.