Brother of young man stabbed to death 26 years ago speaks out as his killer finally faces justice

Published date05 January 2021
Date05 January 2021
Publication titleManchester Evening News: Web Edition Articles (England)
New DNA techniques helped police prove Geoffrey Strike was responsible for killing 21-year-old Jason Comerford in 1994.

Strike, who is mentally ill, stabbed him in the neck in an unprovoked attack after Jason had been on a night out in Manchester city centre.

A court heard Strike may have mistakenly believed he was 'under threat of some kind' due to his mental health problems, but that Jason was 'entirely blameless'.

More than a quarter of a century later, Strike, who did not feature in the police's initial investigations, has faced justice.

A conviction was only secured after Jason's brother challenged the Crown Prosecution Service CPS after they twice said there was not enough evidence to charge the prime suspect.

In recent years, GMP built what they thought was a convincing case against Strike for the horrific fatal stabbing of innocent Jason.

They interviewed Strike in 2018 after making a key breakthrough with DNA evidence.

Police submitted a file to the CPS, but Crown lawyers said there was not enough evidence to charge Strike.

The force, as is their right, appealed, but it was refused. An Assistant Chief Constable submitted a third.

That too was turned down.

Having exhausted all its options, GMP's Cold Case Unit then assisted Jason's brother in exercising the family's right to appeal.

After the evidence was independently assessed by a CPS lawyers in London, they gave the go-ahead to charge Strike.

Following a Manchester Crown Court sentencing hearing, Strike, who admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, has been sentenced to an indefinite hospital order.

Judge Mr Justice Hilliard said: "It may be that the defendant will never be released.

"Jason's family have had to live, and in the case of his parents, die, without seeing anyone be brought to justice for his death.

"For many years the trail went cold, until the further scientific work was carried out."

Strike, who at the time of the killing had 'discharged himself' from mental health treatment, lived just 250 yards from the scene of the crime and he was obsessed with knives.

But after taking the life of Jason Comerford, he escaped justice for nearly 27 years.

Today Wednesday, Jason's brother, Darren, said: "If it hadn't been for the diligence and tenacity of the police over many years, we would not have reached this point.

"They have sought and achieved justice for an ordinary young man, and have persisted even in the face of resistance from the system.

"I want to give a...

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