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MERSEYSIDE POLICE
INCREASE REWARD IN A BID TO FIND THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MURDER OF
CRAIG EATON 10 YEARS AGO
24 February 2014 was the
10th anniversary of the murder of 22 year old Craig Eaton, a care
assistant who worked at Alder Hey Childrens' Hospital in Liverpool.
In a determined bid to find those responsible Merseyside Police has
added £10,000 to the £10,000 reward previously put up by
Crimestoppers to find the person responsible for the cold blooded
murder of this man who dedicated his life to helping others.
It is believed that Craig was a victim of mistaken identity. He was
fatally shot as he walked along Molyneux Road, Kensington, at about
11.15pm on Tuesday, 24 February, 2004.
Craig was on his way to a friend's house, and was on Molyneux Road
near to the junction with Mallow Road, Kensington, when he was shot
twice. In a bid to save his life local people tried to give him
first aid and called the emergency services, but he was pronounced
dead on arrival at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
Detective Chief Inspector Robbie Slater, said:- "Craig's
family have suffered for 10 years with their loss and have never
been able to come to terms with the fact that Craig will never be
coming home from the job that he loved caring for children at Alder
Hey Hospital. Craig was dedicated to helping children with life
threatening illnesses and on the day he died he was coming to terms
with the loss of one of the children who he had been caring for. He
was so affected by the loss of the child that he went out with a
friend and was walking to another friend's home when he was shot.
His life was tragically cut short. He was just 22 years old and in
the prime of his life with a bright future ahead of him, he was
hoping to become a childrens' nurse. Craig's family have endured
constant suffering since he died and we are determined to find those
responsible for Craig's death and put them before the courts. No
family should suffer as Craig's have. We are resolute in our
determination to find those responsible for this cold blooded murder
of a passionate, caring young man. As a result of our investigations
we believe that the person who murdered Craig is involved in serious
and organised crime and I am convinced that there are people out
there in the criminal world, who know who did this. I would urge
them to come forward, this young man did nothing but help others. He
didn't deserve to die in such a cold blooded way. If you know who is
responsible search your conscience and come forward so we can bring
the family the justice they deserve."
Craig's brother Lee, said:- "We have never been able to come
to terms with Craig's loss and he is constantly in our thoughts. I'm
now a dad myself, with four young boys and a girl, who will never
have the pleasure of knowing their Uncle Craig. Craig loved working
with children at Alder Hey and I know he would have been a fantastic
uncle who my children would have adored. They have been robbed of
the ability to get to know and love Craig and I would ask anyone who
knows anything which could help the Police to find those responsible
to come forward so that justice can be done."
Merseyside Police has added a further £10,000 to the Crimestoppers
reward of £10,000 which has previously been offered to members of
the public who come forward with information about Craig 's murder.
The £20,000 reward is being offered to anyone who gives information
anonymously to Crimestoppers on:- 0800 555 111, which leads to the
arrest, charge and conviction of anyone linked to the death of Craig
Eaton.
On the night of the murder it is believed that Craig, who was
wearing a black cardigan over a light blue shirt, black trousers,
and black shoes, got on the number 26 Arriva bus on Belmont Road. He
travelled to Sheil Road, Kensington and was sat near to the front of
the bus. It is believed that Craig got off at the bus stop on Sheil
Road, just before the junction with Molyneux Road, between 11.05pm
and 11.15pm.
Detectives believe there were other passengers who stayed on the bus
when Craig got off. A number of the passengers have been identified,
but detectives would like to speak to the other passengers who were
on the bus as they may have information which could be vital.
Detectives are also trying to trace the movements of two cars which
were in the Molyneux Road area on the night of Craig's murder.
The first car, a dark green Ford Mondeo, registration number:- Y723
RJA, with a brake light in the middle of the rear window, is
believed to have been parked on Molyneux Road at the junction with
Gilroy Street around the time of the murder. After the murder it is
alleged the Mondeo was seen driving along Molyneux Road past the
scene of the shooting, and turned left in to Mallow Road. The car
was then seen turning left onto Malvern Road and left again onto
Malden Road before back in to Molyneux Road.
The Ford Mondeo was recovered by Police on Wednesday, 3 March 2004,
at the junction of Apollo Way and Barker Way, Anfield. It had been
stolen from outside Lancashire Motor Radiator Company Limited, Great
Homer Street, Kirkdale, between 2pm and 2.30pm on Monday, 23
February 2004. Detectives are appealing to anyone who may have any
information about the Mondeo, particularly its whereabouts from the
time it was stolen on Monday, 23 February, 2004, and when it was
found on Wednesday, 3 March, 2004.
Detectives are also appealing for more information about a silver /
light blue Volvo 740 GL saloon car (registration:- G690 NFR)
believed to have been in the Molyneux Road area around the time of
the murder. This car also had a brake light in the middle of the
rear window and had a blowing exhaust, which made a distinctive
noise. It is believed the car had been sold on the day of the
murder. Again, detectives are trying to establish the movements of
this car on Tuesday, 24 February 2004, until it was seized by Police
on Friday, 27 February 2004. They would also like to speak to the
previous owner of the car as he/she may have valuable information.
Anyone who may have information which could help the Police with
their inquiries should contact:- 0800 230 0600 or the independent
Crimestoppers charity anonymously on:- 0800 555 111.
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Commissioner
signs up to Living Wage
A new initiative to
encourage disabled people to get sporty has started in Liverpool.
More than 70 people have joined the 'Active Me'
programme which began in December 2013 and aims to open up
opportunities for adults with disabilities to get involved in a
range of sporting activities.
Figures show that only 22.6% of people; that is around 3,200; living
in Liverpool with a limiting disability are involved in physical
exercise once a week.
The aim of this programme is to inspire and motivate disabled people
to take up a sport or physical activity such as athletics, dance,
badminton and swimming.
There are currently 6 sessions each week taking place at Lifestyles
Ellergreen, Everton Park, Garston, Peter Lloyd and Walton. A team of
'Activators' are on hand who will give one-on-one support to
participants interested in accessing a particular sport, building
their confidence and being on hand to give them advice and help them
become as sporty as possible.
Plans are in place to also recruit Sports Buddies to offer initial
support to anyone joining a sports club for the first time.
And, to make sure the new initiative is as accessible as possible,
each session will cost just £2 and the first session is free.
Some of the newly signed-up participants will take part in showing
off their new sporting skills in a handball match on Tuesday, 4
March 2014, at Lifestyles Ellergreen in Norris Green.
Assistant Mayor and Cabinet member for leisure, Councillor Wendy
Simon, said:- "We want to be able to eradicate any barriers
which could prevent people with disabilities taking up a sport, and
support them in trying something which may be new to them. Through
Active Me, we want to see an increase in the number of people
involved in physical activity every week. We're delighted to have so
many have signed up since December, and hope to encourage even more
to take part. We're committed to increasing inclusive sports
participation at every level and with this new initiative hope to
create a legacy of lifelong sport for disabled people."
The project will initially offer opportunities to people with one of
three disabilities:-
► Mild to moderate learning disability.
► Visual impairment.
► Hearing impairment.
The programme is funded by a £330,000 Sport England grant along with
financial support from Liverpool Mutual Homes and Your Housing
Group.
The City Council is working in partnership with Everton in the
Community who provide a coaching team for the scheme.
Alt Valley Community Trust is also involved, contributing venue
space, delivering events and promoting the service.
Residents who started using the service in December said:-
Matthew Barrett - "I like the Active Me sessions, the coaches
are respectful and helpful, encouraging and polite. It refreshes me
and makes me feel happy and more confident."
Kyle Burns - "I like the sessions because the staff are all
very welcoming and helpful. I haven't played these sports for ages
so it is fun to be learning them all over again."
Robert Roscoe - "The sessions are fun. I am now feeling active
and I enjoy every sport session. It has made me think of my own
health and I am now eating more healthily."
ROBBERY AND ATTEMPTED ROBBERIES -
AINTREE
MERSEYSIDE Police have
stepped up patrols to reassure people after a robbery and two
attempted robberies on the same road in Aintree, over February 2014.
During the 1st incident on Wednesday, 19 February 2014, officers
were called to Heysham Road at around 6pm by a 14 year old boy
reporting he'd been with a friend on scooters by the railway bridge
when they saw a group of youths. One of them approached the boy,
threatened him with what he believed to be a shotgun and demanded
his phone. The boy handed over his mobile, described as a black
Apple I-Phone 4 16GB. 3 days later, on Saturday, 22 February
2014, a man and a woman reported that they had just come out of a
cash and carry on Heysham Road at around 3.30pm when they were
stopped by a youth armed with what appeared to them to be an air
rifle. He demanded the woman's phone, but the couple kept
walking to the main road and the offender eventually left empty
handed. Around 2 hours later, at 5.30pm, patrols were called
to the same area by 2 women reporting that they had been walking
under the railway bridge when they were approached by a youth
carrying what's believed to be a crowbar. He threatened them and
demanded 1 of their phones and the contents of her handbag, but the
women managed to get to a busier part of the road and the offender
ran off empty handed. Enquiries into all 3 incidents are continuing
and a number of CCTV opportunities are now being explored. High
visibility patrols throughout the area have also been stepped up.
In each case, the offender is believed to be white, around 16 years
old, between 5ft 6in and 5ft 9in tall and spoke with a Liverpool
accent. Two of the victims described the offender as wearing a royal
blue jacket and dark trousers. Detective Inspector Andy Black,
Sefton CID, said:- "I want to take this opportunity to
reassure people in Aintree that we are doing everything we can to
arrest the person or people responsible and bring them to justice.
Our investigations are continuing, but at this stage we believe all
three incidents are linked. I would appeal to people who may have
seen anything suspicious in the Heysham Road area over the last
week, or recognise the descriptions of the offenders, to get in
touch with us. We will act on all the information we receive."
Anyone with information can call detectives in Sefton CID
on:- 0151 777 3833 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on:- 0800 555 111. |
