Young dad was stabbed to death and seven years later his family still don't have answers

A young dad was stabbed to death but no one has been held accountable, an inquest heard. Ryan Lamb, from St Helens, was stabbed during a violent incident in Greenbank, St Helens, on April 23 2017.

Emergency services were called to the area behind the Phoenix Inn, on Canal Street, at around 5.25pm that day. The 20-year-old was rushed to hospital in a critical condition, along with two other men who were also believed to have suffered stab wounds.

At an inquest into the dad-of-one's death, which was held at Sefton Coroner's Court at Bootle Town Hall today, Wednesday, September 18, the court heard Ryan suffered catastrophic knife wounds to his chest, which pierced his heart, and abdomen and was rushed to Whiston Hospital.

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Following surgery, Ryan was placed on life support however he never regained consciousness and tragically died on April 26. Julie Goulding, Senior Coroner for Sefton, St Helens and Knowsley, told the hearing Ryan's cause of death was multiple organ failure including hypoxic brain injury, cardiac arrest with resuscitation and stab wounds to his chest and abdomen.

Following the stabbing, three men were arrested in connection with Ryan's death. However, a decision was made by the Crown Prosecution Service in November 2017 that no further action should be taken against the men.

Detective Superintendent Louise Birchall, who provided evidence at today's inquest, said from the start of the investigation detectives were able to establish four men were involved in the incident, with one of them being Ryan.

She added: "The other three men were arrested on suspicion of Ryan's murder and were interviewed. CCTV, witness, telecom and forensic evidence was all put to the CPS to request a charging decision. That all took place within six months, in October 2017."

A month later, the CPS requested no further action should be taken against the men due to "insufficient" evidence. Ms Goulding told the hearing how the family requested another review of the charging decision, which was accepted a few years later.

She added the family were frustrated at the "time elapsed" between the reviews. Det Supt Birchall also told the court how Ryan's family wanted to meet with the CPS reviewing lawyer to ask about the rationale behind the decision for no further action.

However she said the lawyer was unavailable for a "long period of time" and believed they did not return to work. A second review undertaken by another lawyer who also said no further action could be made against the men.

The coroner said this was a "gruelling time for the family" and it was evident they were still "distraught" over what happened to Ryan. Ms Goulding said there was "no prospect for any offence to be brought against any person" in connection to Ryan's death.

She said if any new evidence did come to light, the police would be able to reopen the case. In her conclusion, the coroner said a knife was found on Ryan and another was nearby to the scene.

She added Ryan's injuries were "unsurvivable" and he died "peacefully" at Whiston Hospital. She recorded a narrative conclusion into his death.

Julie Goulding said: "Ryan James Lamb was involved in a violent incident on April 23 2017. Four males were involved and three of the four males also suffered serious knife wounds." Coroner Goulding added: "The circumstances surrounding the evidence remains unknown due to insufficient and inadmissible evidence in connection to his death."

The coroner also apologised to the family for the length of time it had taken for the inquest to conclude. She said: "This has taken a long, long time which has not helped any of you at all and I give my apologies for that [...] it's been very difficult and very difficult for the family."