Murder case 'will never be closed' as inquest finds Wellingborough stabbing victim Shane Fox was 'unlawfully killed'
An inquest to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of a Wellingborough man who was stabbed in the chest in 2018 has finally been closed today (Wednesday, October 23), nearly six years after he was killed.
Shane Fox, 26, died shortly after 2am on December 1, 2018, after being stabbed in the chest near his home in Nest Farm Crescent as he walked through Wellingborough’s Hemmingwell estate with his brother Craig after a night out.
At the inquest at Northampton Guildhall, opened and adjourned on December 13, 2018, senior coroner for Northamptonshire Anne Pember heard written evidence from witnesses including Craig Fox and Detective Chief Inspector Adam Pendlebury of Northants Police.
Mrs Pember said: “I’m very sorry that this inquest has taken so long. No charge has ever been made and no-one found responsible. It is unlikely that anyone will be found.”
Present at the inquest were Shane’s mum Caroline and son Craig – sadly dad Ian recently died.
The court heard that Shane and his brother Craig had returned to Nest Farm Crescent at about 2am on December 1, 2018, after having abandoned plans to go to a club in Wellingborough town centre.
Craig said Shane had been in an ‘argumentative’ ‘foul’ mood but by the time they got back onto the Hemmingwell estate, he had calmed down.
They crossed the ‘Kestral’ Bridge and went past the basketball court.
As the brothers headed to Nest Farm Crescent, they were being ‘a bit loud’
Craig said: “We were being a bit loud and laughing. Next thing we knew somebody said ‘shut up’ (from an upstairs window). I said ignore him but Shane said ‘shut up yourself’.
"I said enough’s enough. Then I heard my brother say ‘I’ll meet you around the front’. I just wanted to get home. I didn’t think that the male would come out.”
Shane walked quickly around the corner and Craig lost sight of him. When he caught up, they were standing about five steps from each other – Craig saw the other man, who he didn’t recognise, was carrying two kitchen knives with six to seven-inch long blades, one in each hand.
He said: “I clocked the two knives. I said ‘leave it out’. Shane must have said something like ‘f*** off’. I saw the bloke lunge. I pulled him away from my brother then he lunged for me. That’s when I was stabbed. I heard my brother say he’d been stabbed. He turned a 180 and hit the deck. I turned him over and saw the blood. It was just pouring out.”
The commotion alerted neighbours who came running to help – they had heard screams for help and called an ambulance.
Craig attempted CPR on his brother, with ambulance personnel when they arrived within five to ten minutes. A helimed doctor attempted to save Shane’s life but he was pronounced dead at 2.48am.
A homicide investigation was launched by Northants Police immediately.
Speaking under oath on the stand, DCI Pendlebury said that he had taken over the investigation in 2021 as part of the major crime team. He thanked the family for their ‘tremendous courage, strength and resilience’.
Investigations to find the attacker began with ‘considerable’ house-to-house enquiries, ‘extensive’ forensic work and a trawl of local CCTV, as well as a countrywide ANPR search to see if the killer had fled the area. No eyewitnesses have ever come forward.
One clue remains the image of a man caught on CCTV – a potential witness seen on CCTV walking past the Well Café near Nest Farm Crescent at about 1.55am on the day of Shane’s killing.
DCI Pendlebury said: “A person was captured on CCTV. Unfortunately, to date, this person has not been identified. CCTV overlooking the scene had stopped working a week before the incident.”
Of more than 400 exhibits seized in relation to the incident, no positive leads were found. A ‘low-grade’ DNA sample from Shane’s hand was not matched in the national DNA data base.
DCI Pendlebury said: “The investigation couldn’t link any person through DNA. In total, five people were declared a suspect but there was no link.”
On the fifth anniversary of Shane’s death, his parents spoke to the Northants Telegraph and other mediaof the night he was killed and the impact on their family.
The media appeal hoped to jog people’s memories, but today it was revealed the publicity garnered abuse.
DCI Pendlebury said: “Online accusations and trolling were made towards the family.”
Addressing the family, he gave them his ‘sincere condolences’ and said: “This investigation will never be closed.”
As Mrs Pember closed the inquest giving her conclusion, she said: “Shane was unlawfully killed. This case will never be closed. I’m very sorry for your loss.”
The suspect seen by Craig with the two ‘kitchen’ serrated knives is described as a black male in his 20s, about 5ft 7in with a round face. He was wearing a dark coloured puffer-style ‘shimmery’ jacket with horizontal stitching. He was wearing a hood.
In May 2019 independent charity Crimestoppers offered £10,000 for information leading to the conviction of his killer – a reward that in June 2023 was doubled to £20,000.
Police officers are still urging a potential witness seen on CCTV walking past the Well Café near Nest Farm Crescent at about 1.55am on the day of Shane’s killing to come forward.
Another man was also seen at about 9pm the evening before the murder – Friday, November 30, 2018 – he was seen outside Shane’s home in Nest Farm Crescent who appeared to be shouting towards the address.
Officers believe this man could have useful information and have previously appealed to trace him as a potential witness. He is described as a white man, about 5ft 7in to 5ft 8in, of slim build and with a bald head, and wore a blue short-sleeved T-shirt and dark blue jeans.
No further action has been taken against any of the men arrested in connection with the investigation.
DCI Pendlebury said: “As ever, our thoughts remain with Shane’s family and loved ones. “We remain committed to securing justice for the Fox family and continue to encourage anyone with information which could assist our investigation into Shane’s murder to get in touch.”
If you have information about Shane’s murder, contact Northamptonshire Police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111 or visiting their website. Only information submitted directly to Crimestoppers will qualify for any reward.
Information can also be submitted to detectives at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/33EM18D50-PO1