Seven months, six arrests and no charges: Police still searching for Keelan's killer
The detective leading the murder investigation into the death of 15-year-old Keelan Wilson said his team won’t give up on the case despite no one being charged seven months on.
Six teenagers have now been arrested over Keelan Wilson’s death in May and Detective Inspector Warren Hines admitted the murder probe is ‘progressing slowly.’
But the detective from West Midlands Police said ‘no-one will give up’ as he vowed to crack the case.
Keelan’s heartbroken mother, Kelly Ellitts, wants her son’s killers brought to justice as she dreads spending her first Christmas without him.
Det Insp Hines told Black Country Coroners Court that two more teenagers have been arrested over Keelan’s death, but all six - aged 14, 15, 16, 17, 16 and 16 – have now been released under investigation.
He said: “This investigation for us is challenging. The delay of this case is concerning in so much that a 15-year-old boy lost his life in really traumatic circumstances.”
Ambushed
Keelan was stabbed to death just yards from his home by an armed group of masked attackers.
He was ambushed while he was tending to a broken-down car. The attack happened at around 11pm on May 29 in Strathfield Walk, Merry Hill.
Police are yet to establish a clear motive behind the attack.
But detectives have been trawling through large amounts of CCTV, telephone and internet records to help their enquiries, Det Insp Hines told the court.
He said: “We have had to view 100 hours of CCTV in real time. That part of the investigation is drawing to a close. There is also more forensic work to do.
“What moves this investigation forward is the minute detail.
"We are making progress – albeit slowly. But I am satisfied with how the investigation is going.”
'Still our priority'
Asked by coroner Zafar Siddique if police knew whether this was a targeted attack or what the motivation was, Det Insp Hines said it was ‘really difficult’ to say.
“(We have) never really got to what the real motive was,” he said.
However despite the slow progress of the investigation, Det Insp Hines pledged police will not give up trying to find Keelan’s killers.
“This is a case that has touched myself and my team, it is definitely our priority,” he said.
“No one will give up, (we will continue working) like we did from day one.
“It is a case that I have to provide updates to my police commanders, they want to know what is going on.
“I want to reassure the family that this case is still very much our priority.”
'Ruined our lives'
At the inquest hearing, Keelan’s mother Kelly spoke of the devastating hole left in her family’s life after his death.
She told the Express & Star: “They (his attackers) came down to kill Keelan. All of them were armed and attacked him. All of them used fatal damage. It wasn’t one blow that killed Keelan, it was several.
“He was 15. There is no reason why they attacked him, they were just a pack of animals.
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"It is just unbelievable what happened. Keelan has left behind two sisters and a brother.
“His death has ruined all of our lives. Christmas is just around the corner but we can’t do nothing.
“I don’t want to put the tree up. My son’s death has completely ruined my life.”
Inquest adjourned
Keelan was a former pupil at Castlecroft Primary School and lived with his family in Fareham Crescent.
He was with a friend in Strathfield Walk and trying to move a car from a nearby carriageway when the masked attackers pounced on him and repeatedly stabbed him.
The inquest into Keelan’s death was adjourned until February, at a date still to be confirmed, so police can continue their investigation.
The court’s coroner, Mr Siddique, said: “I want to take this opportunity to offer my condolences to Keelan’s family.
“This young man lost his life in horrific circumstances. I will allow the police to do their job and hopefully the perpetrators can be brought to justice.”
Anyone with information should call police on 101. Alternatively call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
