Anthony Scarlett

Anthony Scarlett was stabbed through the heart yards from his home on 25 February 1994 in broad daylight around lunchtime.

He was said to have fought desperately to defend himself against the knifeman. He died on the pavement within yards of his flat.

No motive for the murder is known.

His best friend, a 22-year-old, was charged with his murder, but it was said that there were doubts over the charge. It was reported that the prosecution had even admitted in court that the friend might not be guilty.

Following the charge, a senior magistrate said, 'There is very little evidence pointing at this defendant. The circumstances of this unfortunate matter are far from clear. There is nothing to directly connect the defendant to this disturbing crime. There is no circumstantial or scientific evidence to connect the defendant with his death. This is the most unusual situation I have come across in 40 years on the bench'.

They had been flatmates and he was said to have killed him outside their home in Livingstone Avenue, Aigburth.

The charges against him were dropped nine days later.

The police said that they were also trying to trace a couple that had been seen in the area the night before his death. They said that the night before the murder that a car hit a wall in the road and that they wanted to speak to the two people in it. The driver was described as:

• Male.
• Mixed Race.
• Mid 20s.
• Short hair.

His passenger was described as:

• Female.
• Mid 20s.
• Shoulder length hair.

The police later said they were questioning a 37-year-old male from the Aigburth area over the murder, but the case against him was dropped after witnesses declined to give evidence.

A white minibus with registration G955 DEM was seen in the area at the time the attack took place and the police said that their inquiries suggested that the occupants of the van might have played a significant role in the case. They said, 'The vehicle was later found burned out, which, in itself, suggests its appearance at the scene was not entirely innocent'.

It was later reported that the killer was walking free because witnesses wouldn't give evidence because they feared for their lives. A detective said that he thought that it was the first time in Liverpool that a murder case had been halted by threats.

At the inquest it was heard that the police had traced five witnesses, but that before an identification parade could be held that four of them said that they no longer wished to help the police or to give evidence in court. The police said that three of them signed statements giving details about the way they had been intimidated.

It was said that no one came forward to say that they had seen the fatal stabbing but that the five witnesses were able to put the suspected killer within 50 yards of the scene immediately before and after the murder.

The Crown Prosecution service later said that without the co-operation of the four witnesses, that the suspect could not be charged with Anthony Scarlett's murder.

After the details were heard at the inquest the Coroner returned a verdict of unlawful killing and said, 'I cannot express too strongly my concern over this kind of intimidation. The police file on the case will remain open and they will be trying to identify those who carried out the intimidation'.

After the verdict the police said, 'Inquiries will continue, but we are not seeking anyone else in connection with the death of Mr Scarlett'.

Anthony Scarlett had been a Rastafarian and had been the father of a 4-month-old boy. He had been with his girlfriend for two years.

He was described as a keep-fit fanatic and to have been well known in the Aigburth and Toxteth area.

Anthony Scarlett was also known as Jonah.