Parents in appeal over innocent son gunned down by mistake

Adam Chadwick was just 20 when he was shot in the head by one of three men who burst into his sister’s house in Harehills, Leeds, in June 2008.

Two shots were fired, one of which hit Adam in the head, leaving him brain dead.

Despite extensive police inquiries and an appeal on BBC’s Crimewatch, no-one has been charged, although 14 arrests have been made.

Yesterday a coroner ruled at an inquest that the father of one was unlawfully killed. The hearing heard that Adam was a hard-working carpet fitter who lived with his parents in Seacroft, Leeds.

On the night of his murder he was at his sister Gemma’s house, watching TV with her and her boyfriend Jay Beaumont.

The events that followed have baffled detectives.

Between 8pm and 10pm a thin white woman, described as having a drug-addled appearance, knocked on the door asking for “Michelle”.

She left when told there was no-one called Michelle living there.

Not long after she came to the door again but then three masked black men barged into the house. They began shouting, “where is Michelle?”

During a scuffle with Jay and Adam, who almost managed to push them from the house, two shots were fired from an adapted Baikal 9mm pistol.

Det Sgt Niall Chambers told the inquest that the motive was not clear:

He told the inquest: “The motive is unclear; as far as our investigation shows all those living there worked hard for a living, there is no information or intelligence at all to suggest he was the target of this murder.

“They are all totally innocent people.”

He said 14 people had been arrested but no one had been charged with the murder.

Coroner David Hinchliff said: “Adam and Jay did a wonderful job in trying to expel them from the property.

“But two men is not enough when faced with three men and a gun and Adam was killed when a single gunshot entered his head.”

The murder investigation into Adam’s death remains open and active.

Speaking after the case Adam’s father Martin, 50, said: “We are convinced three of those 14 people who have been arrested are responsible for the murder of our son but the police cannot find the evidence to prove it.

“If anybody knows anything at all, no matter how small, please get in touch with the police, because these people need to be caught.

“We are sure that they will kill again. They killed Adam in such a cold, calculated way that they are capable of doing this again.”

He added that he and the family could not move on until his son’s killers had been brought to justice.

He said: “This is another step in our healing process but we will never have closure until somebody is caught.

“We cannot walk around the streets without wondering whether we are facing Adam’s killers.

“We need his killers to face justice.

“In this day and age nobody should be allowed to get away with murder.”

The family still take care of Adam’s daughter Ruby, now five, every weekend and she wears a locket containing her father’s picture.

Adam’s mother Jackie said: “There is so much in Ruby that reminds us of Adam when he was her age.”

Det Supt Dick Nuttall, of West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Inquiry Team, said after the hearing: “Despite the length of time that has passed since Adam’s tragic death we remain as determined as ever to bring those responsible to justice.

“I would urge anyone with information to search their conscience and come forward. Adam’s family are desperate to know why he died and who was responsible.

“Bringing Adam’s killers to justice will provide some small comfort to his family.”