Introduction

On the morning of 13 March 1981, 23year‑old John Suffield was brutally murdered inside Joe Coral’s Betting Shop on Lodge Lane, Liverpool. It was around 9.30am on a busy street, yet the events of that morning remain clouded by contradictions, missing information, and unanswered questions. Witness statements varied, key details were obscured, and to this day no one can say with certainty how those responsible entered or left the premises.

John had been threatened in the days leading up to his death. He no longer felt safe at work and was preparing to hand in his keys on the very morning he was killed. Despite this, the individuals who had issued those threats were arrested only briefly before being released. Their statements — along with several others — contained inconsistencies that were never fully explored.

By Monday afternoon, just three days after the murder, two new suspects, Ray Gilbert and John Kamara, were arrested. Ray had a solid alibi, yet he would lose 36 years of his life to imprisonment.

More than four decades later, the truth about what happened to John Suffield remains unresolved. His family, his community, and those who have fought for justice continue to seek clarity, accountability, and answers that should have been uncovered long ago.