Inquest into death of Neil Charles who was murdered in Bury St Edmunds by David and Edward King permanently suspended at Suffolk Coroner’s Court

An inquest into the death of Neil Charles, who was murdered in Bury St Edmunds, has been permanently suspended.

Mr Charles died on June 22, 2021, at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, two days after being stabbed in Winsford Road.

David King, 56, and his son Edward, 20, of Radnor Close in the town were sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on April 24 where they were given prison sentences of 21 and 19 years respectively.

The court heard the pair staged a 'vigilante' attack on Mr Charles and had been alerted to an attempted break-in on the estate which they spotted on their own CCTV in the early hours of the morning.

The pair armed themselves and went out to investigate, without calling police.

Prosecuting barrister, Richard Kelly, told the court, David King carried a Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife, while Edward had with him a 27-inch Samurai sword.

David King used his fighting knife to inflict a fatal 12cm stab wound to Mr Charles chest, while the Samurai sword, carried by Edward king, caused a wound above the victim's left knee.

At around 3.55am, David King called police and told them a man had been trying to steal from his car. He admitted he had been carrying a knife.

Police arrived to find King in Winsford Road, where the stabbing took place. Neil Charles was discovered close by and was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, where died from his wounds.

King was first arrested that morning, and son, Edward, later in the day.

During a hearing at Suffolk Coroner's Court today, Coroner Nigel Parsley permanently suspended the inquest.