Coroner links nightclub knife attack to death of 'gangster' in mansion

A frenzied knife attack in a nightclub could provide a clue to the death of a suspected gangster who was shot at a Cheshire mansion, an inquest has heard.

Coroner Bernard Richmond QC, sitting at London's Royal Courts of Justice, said he needs to look at all "relevant" issues that may be linked to the death of security worker Stephen "Aki" Akinyemi, 44.

He died after being shot in the temple during a fight with Arran Coghlan at the businessman's home in Alderley Edge on February 9 2010.

The coroner said an attack in which Mr Coghlan was among three people who were stabbed at Cobdens nightclub in Stockport in the early hours of New Year's Day 2008 could be of interest.

He was speaking as the inquest heard a hooded man may have the prime suspect as the knifeman.

The coroner told Mr Akinyemi's brother John who was in the witness box: "My job as a coroner is to consider any evidence which maybe relevant.

"One of the matters which may be relevant is any potential motive or bad feeling for your brother.

"This episode is one such episode."

His comments were sparked by Mr Akinyemi's initial refusal to try and name who he thought were the brothers of the hooded man.

Mr Coghlan told an inquest in October 2011 Stephen Akinyemi pulled a gun on him and it went off during a struggle which saw him get stabbed several times.

Cheshire coroner Nicholas Rheinberg recorded an open verdict, saying he had "difficulty" accepting Mr Coghlan's version of events.

Mr Coghlan was initially accused of murdering Stephen Akinyemi.

The Crown Prosecution Service later dropped the charge because it could not prove Mr Coghlan, who suffered stab wounds, was not acting in self-defence.