Stourbridge MP Suzanne Webb has again raised the case of Ryan Passey in parliament.
Ryan, 24, from Quarry Bank died from a knife wound inside a nightclub in Stourbridge in 2017.
Speaking in the House of Commons today Suzanne said: “Ryan Passey sadly lost his life at the hands of a knife, and the perpetrator was acquitted in an absurd verdict that shocked the whole town.
“We sometimes hear young adults say that they carry a knife for self-defence. We know that it is illegal to do so.”
She asked the Leader of the House, Jacob Rees-Mogg, to make time for a debate on further tightening of the law “so that self-defence cannot be abused as a legal defence in cases like Ryan’s, particularly when Ryan carried no weapon himself".
In reply, The Leader of the House said: “It is always very sad to hear of cases of this kind, and I thank my honourable friend for raising this really serious matter with the house. Knife crime is a great scourge on our society, and it is truly dreadful to see people’s lives taken away and to sense that justice has not been done.”
He added that Suzanne can raise this issue again at justice questions on 8th December.
Speaking afterwards Suzanne added: “I remain committed to supporting Ryan’s family and friends in their campaign for justice.
“But it is also clear there is an urgent need to look at the law around the legal defence of knife use in self-defence when the victim is not themselves armed.
“I will continue to raise this important issue with the government because no other family should have to share the same ordeal as Ryan’s.”
Kobe Murray was cleared of the murder and an alternative count of manslaughter of Ryan at Birmingham Crown Court in 2018. He admitted stabbing the talented footballer at Chicago’s nightclub but said he did it in self-defence.
This week, Ryan’s family confirmed they were launching a private civil case against Mr Murray over the death of their loved one.
A Passey family spokesperson said: “We thank Suzanne for her continual support in raising awareness.”
