'True gentleman' dies before son's killers caught

The father of a young man who was stabbed to death in a case which remains unsolved almost nine years later has died, his family said.

Adam Ellison, 29, was attacked after an argument with two men on the back of a scrambler bike in Prescot, Merseyside, on 4 November 2017.

A charity founded by his family after he was killed, the ADAM (Achieving Dreams and Memories) Foundation, confirmed that his father Fred Ellison had died earlier this week.

In a statement the charity said: "For those of you who didn't have the honour of knowing Fred, he was a true gentleman just like his son, Adam."

The statement on social media continued: "To Fred, it's now time for you to rest.

"It was an honour for us all to have known you and you were quite simply the best.

"Despite missing you terribly, I know your girls, grandchildren and family will take some comfort in knowing you will now be reunited with your loving son, Adam, and take care of him until you all meet again one day.

"You will be missed dearly."

The ADAM Foundation, which campaigns against knife crime, said it would be pausing activities.

"As you can imagine his family are devastated by his loss and understandably have made the hard decision to pause the ADAM Foundation so they can take some much needed time to grieve the loss of Fred as well as still grieving for Adam and take some time to reflect," it said.

Adam was with friends in Market Square after leaving a local pub when a green and white Kawasaki motorcycle narrowly avoided hitting them.

The group exchanged words with the two men on the bike before the pillion passenger struck Adam in the neck with an unknown sharp weapon.

He died in hospital hours later.

The trainee supermarket manager had been saving up to buy an engagement ring for his partner, Rebecca Cunliffe.

Since his death the case has featured in the BBC documentary Our Adam, and a £24,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of his killers has been offered.

Despite a number of arrests over the past eight years no-one has been charged.

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