HUNDREDS of people attended a charity ball to celebrate what would have been stab victim Ryan Passey's 30th birthday.

Revellers attended the Copthorne Hotel in Brierley Hill to celebrate the life of the 24-year-old footballer from Quarry Bank, who was stabbed to death while out with friends at a Stourbridge nightclub in 2017.

Stourbridge News: Ryan's mum Gill Taylor and step-dad Phil TaylorRyan's mum Gill Taylor and step-dad Phil Taylor (Image: Simon Hemus)

They helped raise £6,865 which will be split between The Midland Air Ambulance and Side by Side theatre charity company in Stourbridge through an auction at the event held on Monday (April 30). 

Justice for Ryan spokesman and family friend Jason Connon said: "It was an amazing night full of dancing, singing, laughing and of course a lot of tears as we came together to remember Ryan and celebrate his birthday.

"Thank you to everyone who came along and supported our evening.

"It really means the world to us."

Stourbridge News: Revellers at the event to celebrate RyanRevellers at the event to celebrate Ryan (Image: Simon Hemus)

The family hopes this will be the year that they get a breakthrough in their fight for justice.

They were devastated when Kobe Murray, also known as Kareem Gayle, walked free from court after being acquitted of both murder and manslaughter after a trial at Birmingham Crown Court in February 2018 in which he admitted that he had used a knife to "stab out" during a fight.

In 2021, the Justice for Ryan campaign group brought a successful civil action against Murray, under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 and £10,000 was awarded to Ryan's family in damages.

They fought for the current independent review into the original investigation and Stourbridge MP Suzanne Webb brought up Ryan's case in the House of Commons.

Stourbridge News: MP assistant Eleanor Glass, Ade Passey, Suzanne Webb MP and Jason Connon at the charity ballMP assistant Eleanor Glass, Ade Passey, Suzanne Webb MP and Jason Connon at the charity ball (Image: Simon Hemus)

Now they have been told by West Yorkshire police that their review is likely to be published in June.

Jason Connon, who has been supporting the family as their spokesperson since Ryan's death, said everyone was feeling a lot more confident that justice would be done.

Stourbridge News: INSET: Ryan Passey was just 24 when he was killed at Chicago's nightclub in Stourbridge INSET: Ryan Passey was just 24 when he was killed at Chicago's nightclub in Stourbridge (Image: Handout)