Investigation into fatal stabbing of 35-year-old Blackpool man will not be reopened

Police at the scene of the crime on October 26 2019

Kristopher Kam, 35, was dragged from his bike and stabbed three times in broad daylight on Queen Victoria Road, October 26, 2019.

He was rushed to hospital but died the following day from a fatal wound to the back of his left thigh.

Christopher Carrington was cleared of his murder at Preston Crown Court last month, but was found guilty of manslaughter.

Kris Kam's bicycle, which he had been dragged from during the attack, lies abandoned at the side of the road, October 26 2019

The 26-year-old, who was described as being 'obsessed' with knives, was jailed for 20 years with a three-year extended licence. He will serve two thirds of his sentence before a parole board considers whether he can be released.

His co-defendant Kevin Gracia, 26, of Hilltop Avenue, London, was also found guilty of manslaughter and received a sentence of nine years and nine months.

Munochismo Eriken, 28, of South Green, London, and Shaquille Cumberbatch, 27, of Montrose Avenue, Edgware, London, were found not guilty of murder.

At an inquest hearing at Blackpool town hall yesterday, coroner Alan Wilson decided not to reopen the investigation into Mr Kam's death.

He said: "(The pathologist) concluded that she felt the cause of Mr Kam's death was a stab wound to the back of the left thigh knee.

"Police undertook their investigation and in due course the court was told that individuals were being prosecuted in relation to the circumstances surrounding Mr Kam's death, and that proceedings were going to Preston Crown Court.

"Typically, there would be a coroner's investigation and a police investigation running in tandem, but once the police make a decision that charges are going to be brought, we are invited to suspend our investigation pending the conclusion of the proceedings. This decision was made in this court pending the outcome of the proceedings at Preston Crown Court.

"Usually, if the issues surrounding the death have been fully explored within the Crown Court, the inquest will not be resumed."

An inquest can still take place following the outcome of a court case at the request of the victim's family, however, Mr Wilson said no such request had been made in this case.

Various pieces of CCTV evidence played during the trial showed the defendants Carrington, Gracia, Eriken and Cumberbatch in a VW Golf driving around the areas of Grasmere Road, Bela Grove and Wyre Grove before the attack.

They set upon Mr Kam as he cycled back from a nearby McColl's.

As Carrington stabbed him, witnesses heard him shout: "You've got the wrong man."

Mr Wilson said: "I pass onto the family the condolences of those at the coroner's service."