Charles Nelson

Charles Nelson was stabbed to death in Wavertree on 2 September 1998.

He was found dead in an alley off Quorn Street. He had been stabbed about nine times. It was suggested that he had been dragged into the alleyway by a mugger and stabbed to death in an act of gratuitous violence.

The police said that they thought the motive was robbery.

A friend of his was tried for his murder but acquitted.

Charles Nelson was described as a frail pensioner, weighing just six stone and having had a heart condition. It was thought that he had been visiting friends near his home and had been walking home at the time he was attacked, about 12.10am.

Two women scared off the killer and tried in vain to save Charles Nelson.

A 46-year-old man was tried for his murder, but acquitted. They had been friends. He had denied having murdered Charles Nelson, saying that he had been in bed at the time.

At the trial it was alleged that the man had stabbed Charles Nelson after he took his wallet to pay for a prostitute. Quorn Street had not been far from the man's home in Holt Road, Kensington.

Witnesses said that they heard Charles Nelson calling out the man's name, saying, 'I didn't do anything'.

The court also heard that Charles Nelson's blood was found on the sleeve of the man's anorak and the unusual sole pattern of one of the man's boots had matched a footprint found in blood at the scene.

The man claimed that the blood found on his anorak was from a nose bleed that Charles Nelson had had earlier in the day.

When he was asked whether he had murdered Charles Nelson, the man replied, 'No'.

After the man was acquitted the police said that they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the case.