The family of a "loyal and loving" son found stabbed in an alleyway have still not seen justice done a year after his death.
James Richards, 33, was found dead by a member of the public in a private passage between Woodbine Street and Harebell Street, Kirkdale, on September 22 last year. Three men, aged 22, 32 and 38, and a woman, aged 32, were arrested on suspicion of murder but then released on bail.
So far no-one has been charged in connection with the death of Mr Richards from the L11 area of Liverpool. A year on, Merseyside Police confirmed Mr Richards' cause of death was a single stab wound to the abdomen.
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Detectives at the time said they believe Mr Richards was killed in a targeted attack, but remained open-minded about the circumstances of his death. One line of inquiry was that he may have been injured on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning at one location and later collapsed in the alley he was found in.
In the weeks after his murder, James' family issued a statement saying: "A huge hole has been torn in our family. One of our precious ones has been cut down in his prime. Brave, loyal, loving and generous, James.
"For just 33 years he brightened our lives and occasionally had our hearts in our mouths, his loss has shattered us all. Rest gently our beautiful, bold boy."
Anyone with information should contact Merseyside Police via Twitter (@MerPolCC), Facebook (Merseyside Police Contact Centre) or by calling the force on 101, quoting the reference 21000660162. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online here
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