Four decades after a young man was fatally stabbed at a Liverpool festival, his family has issued a heartfelt plea for information to finally solve the cold case murder.
A Family's Decades-Long Search for Answers
Jeffrey McNish, a 22-year-old reggae enthusiast from Forest Hill in south London, travelled to Liverpool for the Toxteth Caribbean Festival on Saturday, 10 August 1985. He never returned home to his family.
That evening, a dispute over admission fees escalated into violence between groups from London and Liverpool at the Toxteth Sports Centre. Jeffrey was attacked with cricket bats and stabbed three times. He was rushed to hospital but succumbed to his injuries a week later.
Despite six arrests and a 1986 trial that saw one man convicted of affray and another of perverting the course of justice, no one has ever been charged with Jeffrey's murder. Initial investigations were hampered by a reluctance in the community to come forward, with some witnesses reportedly hiding their faces when visiting police stations.
"Our World Was Torn Apart": A Sister's Memories
Jeffrey's younger sister, Kimberley, was only six years old when her brother was killed. The tragedy came just months after the death of their mother in May 1985.
"In August 1985, our world was torn apart for the second time," Kimberley said. "Jeffrey was a loving brother who never minded me tagging along. I remember him holding my hand when our mother died, making sure I felt safe."
She recalls their last Christmas together in 1984, when Jeffrey surprised her with a large Sindy House, pretending it was from Father Christmas. "That was the kind of brother he was — always thoughtful, always making me feel special," she added.
Her final memory of him is in their family kitchen. "He told me that when he came back from where he was going, he was going to change his surname to match mine. At the time, I didn’t understand that he was never coming back."
The unresolved crime cast a long shadow over the McNish family. Their father became overprotective, living in fear, and passed away in 2017 without ever knowing who was responsible for his son's death.
Police Renew Appeal for Crucial Information
Merseyside Police's Serious Crime Review Unit has now renewed its appeal for information, emphasising that there is no time limit on justice.
Howard Rubbery, Head of the Unit, stated: "Jeffrey’s death has had a profound and lasting impact on his family. Although 40 years have passed, his sisters are still waiting for the answers they deserve."
"We know there are people who were at the festival that weekend and who know what happened. My appeal is for those individuals to come forward. Any information will be handled with care and sensitivity, and we can put measures in place to protect anyone brave enough to come forward after all these years."
The family and police are urging anyone with information, no matter how small it may seem, to make contact.
How to provide information:
- Contact Merseyside Police by messaging @MerPolCC on social media.
- Call 101, quoting reference 25001000832.
- Contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their online form.
