Police launch murder investigation after man dies 15 years after being stabbed

A murder investigation was launched after a man died last year of complications of being stabbed 15 years ago – as police make fresh appeal.

Detectives in Bury are appealing for help to solve a murder which resulted from a knife attack back in October 2008.

Christopher Linton, 40, sadly died on May 30th 2023 from complications believed to be linked to when he was the victim of a stabbing.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) launched a murder investigation after his death.

Mr Linton, then 25, left the Derby Arms pub in Bury – which has since been demolished – and walked along Bolton Road, in the early hours of October 4th 2008, shortly before he was assaulted.

He was seen talking to two women near the Blockbuster video store and Raja’s Indian Takeaway when the pair got into a black car with two men.

Mr Linton continued to speak to them when one of the men stabbed him in the neck. He managed to make his way back to the pub to seek help and an ambulance was called.

Mr Linton suffered life-threatening injuries from the stabbing. He was taken to hospital where he was treated but never fully recovered from the attack.

Following the stabbing, two men were arrested but no one was charged in connection with the assault. 

Last year, Mr Linton was admitted to Fairfield General Hospital where he tragically passed away on May 30th.

Officers launched a criminal investigation after his death and have since made a fresh appeal for anyone with details about the attack to come forward to help police finally solve the investigation.

Mr Linton’s mother, Tracey McLeod said her son ‘was kind-hearted and always put others before himself’.

She issued a plea to the public to assist police so they can ‘help a devastated family and help my son Chris to rest in peace’.

Ms McLeod said: “My son Christopher, who liked to go by the name of Chris, lost his life on May 30, 2023 at Fairfield Hospital when he was just 40 years old.

“Chris was kind-hearted and always put others before himself. He had a heart of gold, he was funny, loving, and most of all caring, and he had a fantastic personality.

“Chris touched the heart strings of everyone who met him: family, friends, colleagues, and strangers. Chris had a son he loved so very much but now his son has lost his father.”

She continued: “Chris was a son, grandson, nephew, brother, uncle, father and brother-in-law. His greatest achievement was becoming an RAC inspector, which he was very proud of and his family was incredibly proud of him.

“Words cannot describe the pain and trauma that Chris’ death has had on our family. The pain and sadness is with us all day and night and it doesn’t go away. I am pleading as a mother for help from the public. Please help us as a family get some closure from the grief we are going through.

“Chris was brutally stabbed in the neck 15 years ago, and the people involved left my son for dead. This happened at the back of Blockbusters on Bolton Road. Please come forward with any information to help a devastated family and help my son Chris to rest in peace.”

Detective Inspector Alex Wilkinson, of GMP’s Major Incident Team said the investigation team ‘remains determined to identify the person or persons responsible and bring them to justice’.

He said: “Chris was an innocent victim of an unprovoked and terrible attack that tragically resulted in his death. 

“Although Chris passed away years after the incident took place, this has not lessened the impact on his family who have had to watch the person they love pass away from an act of senseless violence.”

He continued: “Chris’ family remain at the forefront of this investigation, and we will continue supporting them with specialist officers. Despite the passage of time between Chris’ death and the attack on him, the investigation team remains determined to identify the person or persons responsible and bring them to justice.

“I would like to appeal to anyone with any information about the assault to do the right thing and contact police. The information you have could be the piece we need to solve this investigation and finally bring some closure to a grieving family.”

You can report information via GMP’s website (www.gp.police.uk) or by calling 101, quoting the 495 4/10/2008.