STOURBRIDGE MP Margot James has written to the Government’s Solicitor General over what she says was a “perverse verdict” that followed the Ryan Passey murder trial.

Friends of family of tragic Ryan, aged 24, were left in shock as Kobe Murray, aged 19, of The Broadway, Dudley, was cleared of any wrong-doing in relation to the fatal stabbing of the popular footballer at Chicago's last August - despite admitting at Birmingham Crown Court during his trial that he “stabbed out” forcefully with a flick knife in the busy club as trouble flared.

Stourbridge News:

Conservative MP Ms James was also stunned to hear Murray, who said he acted in self-defence, was not just cleared of murder but also found not guilty of manslaughter despite his admissions in the courtroom and she has since written to the Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC MP about the case.

She said in her letter: "It is incomprehensible to me that the jury could come to such a conclusion given the evidence and testimony available to them, and I feel strongly that the outcome constitutes what you might call a perverse verdict."

Stourbridge News: Bring it on - Margot James says her critics should get their facts right

Ms James (pictured above) continued: "I would like to request a full report from the Crown Prosecution Service that I might be able to share with Ryan’s family.

"I would also be grateful if you could arrange for the investigating officer to meet Ryan’s family so that they can discuss what actions may be available to them.”

The Crown Prosecution Service said following the verdict that it cannot charge a defendant with new offences based on evidence already heard where he has been acquitted.

A spokesman for the CPS said: "As the evidence has already been heard it would effectively be a retrial of the same facts and there is a legal principle called ‘autrefois acquit’ or ‘double jeopardy’ that is a bar to us doing that.

"The basic principle is you can’t be tried for a crime where you have already been acquitted or convicted, or for a crime which you could on some previous indictment have been convicted, or be charged with something that is in effect the same as an offence that you’ve been acquitted of.

"There are some very specific exceptions to the rule, but they require substantial new and compelling evidence.”

Ryan’s family and friends, meanwhile, say they will fight on for justice for the self-employed window cleaner (pictured below), who died after being stabbed in the heart.

Stourbridge News: Undated family handout photo issued by West Midlands Police of murder victim Ryan Passey, 24, who was stabbed in the chest at Chicago’s club in Stourbridge.

Jason Connon, who set up the Respect For Ryan Campaign on Facebook, said those who knew and loved the talented midfielder, who used to play for Stourbridge FC’s youth team and Wren’s Nest FC in Dudley, will “never accept” the verdict reached and he added: “We will be fighting for a retrial.”

He said plans are afoot to launch an online donation page to raise funds to help towards any future legal costs, public demonstrations are also being talked about and friends and family hope to launch a trust in Ryan’s memory to campaign against knife crime.

Mr Connon said: "We hope to form partnerships with local authorities, businesses, charities, schools and clubs to educate youngsters about the devastating effects of knife crime and encourage people to “Put the knife down’.

He added that they also plan to launch a fresh appeal for witnesses who were in the club on the night of Ryan’s death on Saturday August 5-6, 2017, and for “any further information that may assist our fight to get Ryan justice to come forward and speak with us confidentially”.

He added: "Too many young lives are being lost in our community due to the mindless actions of individuals carrying and using knives.”