Knife attack survivor killed in Porsche crash was two-and-half times over drink-drive limit

Ashley Murray, 27, was more than twice the drink-drive limit when he lost control of his Porsche Boxster and hit a tree, the inquest in Harrogate heard.

In 1999, when he was 13 years old, Mr Murray was subjected to a horrific attack and left for dead by two other teenagers after they had watched the horror film Scream.

The attackers, who were 14 and 15, took Mr Murray to an isolated nature reserve near Harrogate and stabbed him a number of times with a knife and screwdriver before leaving him wrapped in a bin bag. He was found seriously injured almost two days later and spent nine months in hospital, making an amazing recovery but remaining paralysed on one side.

His attackers were ordered to be detained for six years after being convicted of attempted murder.

Yesterday North Yorkshire Police Constable Graham McCulloch described Mr Murray’s death as “sad”. He told the inquest: “I recalled what happened to Ashley in 1999. It seems tragically ironic that, following such an incident and his recovery, he should lose his life in such a manner.”

Mr Murray, of West Park, Harrogate, is believed to have drunk around 10 pints of lager during the afternoon of July 14 before driving to a party in a nearby village, the inquest heard.

He had more to drink at the party and drove back to his home at around 10pm, where he left his car and went to a bar in Harrogate.

A short time later, Mr Murray retrieved his car and drove towards Leeds on the A61. At Almsford Bank, Mr Murray overtook a Citroen Picasso driven by Karen Browning, despite double white lines and chevrons in the centre of the road.

Ms Browning emotionally told the inquest how the silver Porsche missed her car by an inch before striking the kerb as it approached a right-hand bend.

She watched as the Porsche span round and hit a tree, causing Mr Murray to suffer a massive head injury. He was pronounced dead at the scene and later found to be nearly two-and-half times the drink-drive limit.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Coroner Rob Turnbull said: “Drinking and driving do not mix. That message has to be reinforced.”