Wirral son appeals for help to find dad's killer - 26th Feb 2009 3:12pm
THE HEARTBROKEN son of a pensioner who died months after being headbutted by a yob today accused his killer of “stealing his dad’s life”.
Michael Corney spoke proudly of his dad, 67-year-old Alan, who was murdered for “standing up for what was right”.
Detectives said they were shocked a teenager could assault the father-of-two in quiet Parkgate, Wirral, for politely asking two youths to stop swearing.
Mr Corney was attacked in front of his wife, Norma, on the picturesque Parade on November 14.
He collapsed weeks later, but never recovered from a bleed on the brain and died three months after the attack.
Son Michael yesterday broke down as he described his dad as a “proud man with strong moral and family values”.
He said: “My father never regained full consciousness for over two months before he died. He didn’t have the opportunity to say goodbye.
“We didn’t have a final family Christmas together. We are only just beginning to come to terms with his death.
“Those who are responsible for the murder of my father – a kind loving family man – will never realise what they have taken from us.”
It has emerged that two youths were drunkenly swearing on The Parade on the evening of the assault, one holding a glass, the other a bottle, when Mr Corney approached them. Two 14-year-old boys who were interviewed are now not main suspects, and detectives are instead hunting two youths, aged between 17-19.
Det Chief Inspector Andy Smith, leading the murder hunt, directly appealed to one of the yobs who did not strike Mr Corney to come forward.
He added that he would be treated as a witness, not a suspect, and escape a prosecution.
Michael Corney added: “My father put my sister and I on the right path in life.
“His life was stolen from him that night – for doing nothing more than standing up for what was right.”
DCI Smith said they had spoken to many witnesses and discovered there were house parties taking place that night in Parkgate.
It is unclear if the two yobs were on the way to a party, or had recently left one.
Call Cheshire police on 0845 4580000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
THE ECHO
Michael Corney spoke proudly of his dad, 67-year-old Alan, who was murdered for “standing up for what was right”.
Detectives said they were shocked a teenager could assault the father-of-two in quiet Parkgate, Wirral, for politely asking two youths to stop swearing.
Mr Corney was attacked in front of his wife, Norma, on the picturesque Parade on November 14.
He collapsed weeks later, but never recovered from a bleed on the brain and died three months after the attack.
Son Michael yesterday broke down as he described his dad as a “proud man with strong moral and family values”.
He said: “My father never regained full consciousness for over two months before he died. He didn’t have the opportunity to say goodbye.
“We didn’t have a final family Christmas together. We are only just beginning to come to terms with his death.
“Those who are responsible for the murder of my father – a kind loving family man – will never realise what they have taken from us.”
It has emerged that two youths were drunkenly swearing on The Parade on the evening of the assault, one holding a glass, the other a bottle, when Mr Corney approached them. Two 14-year-old boys who were interviewed are now not main suspects, and detectives are instead hunting two youths, aged between 17-19.
Det Chief Inspector Andy Smith, leading the murder hunt, directly appealed to one of the yobs who did not strike Mr Corney to come forward.
He added that he would be treated as a witness, not a suspect, and escape a prosecution.
Michael Corney added: “My father put my sister and I on the right path in life.
“His life was stolen from him that night – for doing nothing more than standing up for what was right.”
DCI Smith said they had spoken to many witnesses and discovered there were house parties taking place that night in Parkgate.
It is unclear if the two yobs were on the way to a party, or had recently left one.
Call Cheshire police on 0845 4580000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
THE ECHO
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