Family of stabbed 74-year-old call for case review

David Brickwood, a 74-year-old scrap metal dealer, sustained fatal injuries at his Northampton home

The family of a 74-year-old man who was found dead in his home 10 years ago have called for officers to reinvestigate the case after a police watchdog found failings in how it was handled.

David Brickwood was attacked in his Northampton house on 26 September 2015 and died in hospital from his injuries.

A report by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found Northamptonshire Police did not pursue forensic leads at the time of the initial investigation which "would have potentially strengthened the case".

Mr Brickwood's son, Dale, called on the force to "provide a competent detective and review everything [evidence] again".

The force issued an apology to the Brickwood family and encouraged anyone with information about the case to contact them.

What happened to David Brickwood?

A forensics team examined Mr Brickwood's house on Lindsay Avenue as Northamptonshire Police began a murder inquiry in 2015

David Brickwood, a scrap metal dealer, was stabbed and beaten at his home on Lindsay Avenue in Abington, Northampton, in the early hours of 26 September 2015.

Although he managed to call the emergency services, he died later in hospital.

An inquest heard he had 35 separate injuries including blunt trauma wounds, muscle tearing and stab wounds.

What did previous investigations reveal?

Northamptonshire Police made a series of arrests, but it was only in 2020 that a man was charged with murder and burglary.

Cameron St Rose, of east London, stood trial at Birmingham Crown Court in 2021 but was cleared after a judge ruled DNA evidence in the case was "plainly insufficient".

Prosecutors had claimed pensioner Mr Brickwood was attacked as intruders, including Mr St Rose, went to his home searching for money.

Mr Justice Pepperall said the prosecution had relied on DNA evidence found in two areas of the crime scene.

A major component of a mixed DNA profile found on a rubber window gasket - exposed by a window pane being removed - matched the DNA profile of Mr St Rose, the judge said.

But the judge added: "The agreed scientific position is that it cannot even be said that it is more likely that such DNA was deposited directly by Mr St Rose in the course of committing these offences rather than by secondary transfer.

"Such evidence is plainly insufficient... to be left to the jury.

"Probability is an insufficient basis for proof of a criminal charge. Indeed, in this case the position is even weaker.

"The experts cannot even say that primary transfer is more likely than secondary transfer."

What did the IOPC report find?

Earlier this year, an IOPC report concluded that Northamptonshire Police missed opportunities to pursue forensic evidence in 2016, only for them to lead to the identification of a suspect in 2020 who was later acquitted.

The report said: "It is possible that had they [forensic leads] been pursued earlier, other evidence would have been made available, for example from house and vehicle searches, which was no longer available in 2020, which would potentially have strengthened the case and identified other suspects and/or led to conviction(s)."

The watchdog ruled that while there "was no evidence of individual failures amounting to misconduct, the service provided by Northamptonshire Police was unacceptable".

What have Mr Brickwood's family said?

Dale Brickwood called on Northamptonshire Police to review the evidence in the case

Speaking on the 10th anniversary of his father's death, Dale Brickwood said the family was unhappy Northamptonshire Police had not arranged a "face-to-face meeting" in light of the IOPC report, despite the force admitting to failings in its handling of the case.

"People murdered my dad and were given a four-year head start because evidence was sat on," said Mr Brickwood.

"They [police] are the ones who have messed everything up. If I was in their position I'd want to try and put things right. The whole case and all of the evidence needs to be gone through again.

"It's been 10 years of hell... it's taken such a toll on my mental health and only now am I really coming to terms with it."

A spokesperson for Northamptonshire Police said: "Our thoughts remain with David Brickwood's family and loved ones.

"We continue to encourage anyone with information which could help us to please get in touch."