Race 'not prime motive' in stabbing

Marlon Moran, 21, was killed by a single stab wound during a street fight in Garston, Liverpool, at around midday on Sunday.

Merseyside Police believe the handyman went to Byron Street with friends to confront another group following an altercation a short time earlier. A fight broke out and he was stabbed. A relative took him to a walk-in medical centre, from where he was taken to hospital, but he died at 3pm.

Two white boys, aged 16 and 17, were arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder. Two others are being sought in connection with the attack.

Detectives were still trying to establish the nature of the initial row, but said that racist abuse was allegedly heard during the second altercation, prompting them to classify the crime as racially motivated.

Detective Superintendent Steve Naylor, who is leading the investigation, said the racial element was being treated seriously, but may not have been the primary motive.

He said: "I don't believe he was set upon because he was mixed race. I don't know the exact details of what took place earlier but clearly an incident had taken place, which acted as the catalyst. There is clearly a racial element, but there are other elements we are considering as well."

Mr Naylor refused to reveal the racist words alleged to have been heard during the second altercation.

Mr Moran was the son of a white mother and mixed race father. His parents had separated and he lived with his mother in Garston.

Chief Superintendent Andy Cooke, the area commander for Liverpool South, said no race hate crimes had been reported by the family but said he did not rule out the possibility. He said: "There were no previous reports to police of racial incidents against Marlon or his close family. However, race hate crimes are traditionally under-reported, and that is something we take very seriously and will investigate."