Found knife 'was not murder weapon'

10:36pm Saturday 19th July 2008

A police force that told a member of the public to dispose of a knife found days after the murder of a father of three said it was not now believed to be the weapon used in the killing.

Dave MacDonald, 50, found the six-inch paring knife in a doorway near his office in Bolton on Tuesday - two days after Paul Gilligan was stabbed - according to the Daily Express.

Mr Gilligan was knifed in the chest and shoulder at the Pepper Alley pub in Bolton, Greater Manchester, in the early hours of Sunday. He died at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

MacDonald told the Daily Express: "The operator was very dismissive. I was astonished."

It took another call to detectives before a CID officer turned up to take the knife away and thank Mr MacDonald for his help, according to the paper.

Speaking about the knife handed in, a spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "It is not believed to be the murder weapon however inquiries are continuing."

The spokesman also confirmed that two men arrested on Friday in connection with the murder had been bailed.

He said: "A 23-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder and assisting an offender and a 20-year-old man arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender have been bailed until October 15 pending further inquiries."

On Wednesday Leon Ramsden, 19, appeared at Bolton Magistrates' Court accused of murdering Mr Gilligan.

Ramsden, of Turnstone Road, Bolton, was remanded in custody and will appear at Manchester Crown Court on July 23 for a preliminary hearing.

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