Murderer who stabbed a man while drunk could soon be back on our streets

The ECHO can also reveal that Colin Eedle had his licence revoked in 2022 after breaching his conditions following allegations of domestic violence

A violent thug who brutally stabbed a young man to death in a drunken fit of rage could soon be back on our streets after being deemed no longer a danger to the public. Colin Eedle murdered Steffan Bell in a house in Skelmersdale when he repeatedly stabbed the 22-year-old in the chest and lungs.

Eedle, who came from a well-known south Liverpool family, was found guilty of murder the following year and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was released on parole in 2015 after serving 14 years behind bars, but his licence was revoked and he was re-custody on June 17, 2022.

The ECHO can reveal for the first time that this was due to allegations of domestic violence and concerns that he had not been fully open about his employment. However, the ECHO can reveal that Eedle, who was 21 when he was sentenced and is now 44, was released on parole following the conclusion of a hearing on July 17 this year.

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Bell's mother Gaynor had previously told the ECHO that her son's killer was a “violent and dangerous man”. However, details obtained by the ECHO show that the parole board panel considered that “incarceration was no longer necessary to protect the public”. The panel said it had reached this decision after considering “the circumstances of his offending and his period of probation” as well as “the progress made whilst in custody”.

Ms Bell gave a victim impact statement to the parole board, which was considered by the panel. Ms Bell had previously provided the statement to the ECHO, which said: “The impact of this heinous crime on Steffan's son has been devastating throughout his life. He has sought therapy but still does not want to talk about his father.”

“My son Ryan has had a hard time living his life, particularly with the loss of his older brother Adam, who was killed by a drunk driver, and then with Steffan being murdered. He doesn't want to talk about Steffan or Eedle. The impact on the whole family and our friends is so hard to bear. When Eedle committed this crime, Judge Openshaw said in his closing argument, 'You won't be out of prison for a very long time, if ever.'

“I clung to those words and was devastated when he was released. The impact on me personally is that my health has deteriorated because I am not taking care of myself and thinking about the life my son has missed out on by not seeing his own son grow up to be a pillar of the community.

“I will never know if he will have a grandchild in the future. I believe Colin Eedle will always be a danger to the public and should continue to serve a fitting sentence that reflects what he did to my family through his own actions, namely the murder of my son Steffan.”

The parole board panel said Eedle had previously demonstrated a number of risk factors that made him more vulnerable to reoffending, including “a willingness to use violence, a willingness to make threats to intimidate others, a willingness to use weapons, alcohol problems, use of illegal drugs, an inability to deal with relationship problems, a difficulty in making good decisions and an inability to control extreme emotions.”

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However, the panel found that the killer had completed approved programs and training and “demonstrated the application of relevant skills and knowledge while in custody.” The panel added that Eedle had built positive relationships with family, friends and in the community.

The panel ultimately ruled that Eedle could be managed in the community and was subject to licensing conditions including a requirement to reside at a specific address, supervision including drug testing and a set curfew, an exclusion zone to avoid contact with victims and continued work to address specific areas of risk.

During his time in prison, Eedle was constantly involved in unrest. He was involved in several fights and damaged property, with one officer describing his “intimidating and confrontational behaviour” and accusing him of bullying. He also took to his mobile phone and posted vile messages on Facebook, including one which said: “I came into this world screaming and kicking, covered in someone else's blood. I have no problem leaving the same way.”

The ECHO also understands that he fathered a child while on home leave from open prison. Ms Bell had previously obtained documents from the Court of Appeal listing Eedles' previous convictions, which were never mentioned in open court during his appeal.

The document, sent to Ms Bell the night before Eedle's appearance before the Parole Board in July, said Eedle had 14 previous convictions for 21 offences, including assault, four counts of being drunk and disturbing the peace, two counts of assault on a police officer, possession of an offensive weapon in public and affray.

Ms Bell had previously told the ECHO that Eedle had refused to look at her at previous parole hearings. She previously said: “He murdered my son in a cowardly, brutal attack. He remains a coward today.”

Mr Bell was a friend and employee of Eedle's brother Darren and was picked up by the couple after finishing a shift at a factory where he had been on guard duty. After abusing Mr Bell, Eedle attacked him with a large kitchen knife and struck him several times to the scalp, cheek and chest. Mr Bell was pronounced dead at the scene.

Eedle, who claimed he had no memory of the incident due to his alcohol consumption, was told by Judge Peter Openshaw: “This was a truly horrific murder. Your victim was completely blameless,” before later adding: “It will be many, many years before you can be safely released into society, if ever.”

Mrs Bell, from Aughton, has campaigned tirelessly against knife crime, including in an anti-violence campaign with fellow grieving mothers Liz Moss and Anita Culshaw, whose sons were also killed in the area. Their photographs have been featured on giant billboards across Liverpool as part of a campaign with the message: “Every violent crime has consequences.”