Father of Ryan Passey hopes latest police appeal will finally help bring justice for his slain son
The father of knife victim Ryan Passey still holds onto hope that he will get justice for his son as a new appeal for witnesses is launched six years on.
Ade Passey has urged witnesses to the killing of his son, who died after being stabbed in the heart in Chicago's in Stourbridge in August 2017, to come forward following the release of CCTV footage of two potential witnesses by West Midlands Police.
The force said it believes those two people may hold key information into the case.
Mr Passey, aged 24, was enjoying a night out with friends after playing in a football match in the area when he was stabbed inside the nightclub in Stourbridge town centre.
Kobe Murray admitted to stabbing Mr Passey, but was cleared of murder and manslaughter after telling a court the contact had been "unintentional".
Now, six years after Mr Passey's death, Ade Passey has said he is still angry that people might be holding onto information from that night and spoke about his determination about getting justice.
He said: "To be honest, I'm still quite upset and angry - why people would keep information and not want to come forward and talk, I don't understand why they haven't come forward.
"We don't know who the two people who West Midlands Police have identified are, but we've put it out to the public.
"Again, nothing might come from it, but this isn't going to go away and we're going to continue to fight all the way."
Mr Passey said he felt there was a lot that wasn't known about what went on the evening Ryan died, hence the call for more information.
He also said that every new appeal brought back the memories of the time of his son's death.
He said: "When these appeals do go out, it's very upsetting and I haven't slept very well over the last couple of nights since the appeal went out.
"I try to keep myself busy at work, but it does bring it all back up because the trial anniversary is six years ago and that's very upsetting.
"You have to try and live it every day of your life as you shouldn't have to bury your own son."
Detectives from West Midlands Police said the two men, who were in the queue for the nightclub on the evening Mr Passey died, are not considered suspects.
Mr Passey said his biggest hope from the new appeal was simply that any relevant people came forward and gave information that might bring an end to proceedings.
He said: "I'm just hoping that, fingers crossed, people will come forward and we've put it out there because there must be some information out there.
"I would ask that anyone who has any information to please come and talk to West Midlands Police - and all I want to do is get justice for my son."
West Midlands Police Detective Inspector Jim Church, leading the reinvestigation, said: “I want to be really clear that the men in the images are witnesses.
"Although we don’t believe they witnessed the stabbing itself they may hold information that is now important to our enquiry.”
“We believe they were outside Chicago’s on the evening of the attack, but did not go inside and instead left the area after waiting in the queue.
“I would urge them or anyone who knows them to come forward, so we can speak to them.
“Our focus is on Ryan’s family and we will continue to work with them as that investigation progresses.”
Anyone with information to help the investigation has been asked to get in touch via 101 or Live Chat on the police website, quoting log 2313 of July 20, 2023.
Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.