controversial businessman has walked free after a charge of murder against him was dropped.
Arran Coghlan, 39, was arrested in January after a man was found dead at his Cheshire mansion.
Mr Coghlan suffered serious injuries in the incident at his house in Brook Lane in Alderley Edge.
The dead man was Stephen 'Aki' Akinyemi,44, from Cheetham Hill, who was wearing a protective vest.
He suffered stab wounds but died from being shot.
Mr Coghlan, who had been in custody for six months, was released from prison after crown lawyers offered no evidence against him at Liverpool crown court.
Judge Globe QC, recorder of Liverpool, said: “Given that the prosecution have offered no evidence, I formerly record a verdict of not guilty.”
At the time of the incident Mr Coghlan himself called 999 and told police he had shot Akinyemi three times after being attacked with a knife and a gun.
His legal team have always insisted that Mr Coghlan acted in self-defence.
Mr Akinyemi was found by police on February 9.
Mr Coghlan had also suffered injuries that required medical attention.
A spokesman for Cheshire police, who handled the investigation, said: “The criminal investigation conducted into the circumstances leading to Mr Akinyemi’s death was conducted thoroughly, impartially, and professionally.
“In line with the Criminal Procedures and Investigations Act 1996, the police investigation was both comprehensive and transparent, and within the requirements of the laws of disclosure which allows those charged with a criminal offence to understand the basis of the evidence supporting the charges.”
A spokesman for Crown Prosecution Service said: "The decision to charge Mr Coghlan was made on the evidence available at the time and it was expected that further evidence would be available.
"This further evidence, including forensic evidence, has now been received and reviewed by the CPS, which has a duty to keep cases under continuous review to ensure charges are still appropriate.
"In this case, having reviewed evidence not available at the time of charge, the CPS has decided there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction against Mr Coghlan and has today offered no evidence against him on the charge of murder."notorious gangster was languishing in maximum security Wakefield prison on remand waiting to be summonsed to court on a murder charge, now today he is free, as the police drop the case against him and for the third time he beats a murder charge. He was awaiting trial for the murder of Stephen Aki Akinyemi 44, from Cheetham Hill, Manchester,who was found by police in the bathroom of Mr Coghlan's house on 9 February. He had been shot and stabbed
Quote from the CPS representing the police who have now released Coghlan from prison
The CPS Crown Prosecution Service said: "We have today dropped a charge of murder at Liverpool Crown Court against Arran Coghlan.
"Mr Coghlan was charged on 13 February with the murder of Stephen Akinyemi after an incident at Mr Coghlan's home in Alderley Edge.
"The decision to charge Mr Coghlan was made on the evidence available at the time and it was expected that further evidence would be available."
It is now likely that Arran Coghlan will attempt to prosecute the police for wrongful arrest, this career criminal has substantial wealth and connections and he never lets a negative in his life, go unchecked!
He is very well known through out the criminal world and is known by friends and associates as ‘Az’ the same name as the registration letters on his luxury Bentley Turbo car.
He is reputed to be a drugs lord operating as the King Pin of a gang based in the north east of England
Address and Contact Data
Stephen Aki Akinyemi – King of the Hill – Shot dead at Arran Coghlan Home
Legend
Murder Charge Number 1 – 1996 - He was acquitted of the gangland murder of drug baron Chris Little
Murder Charge Number 2 – 2002 - Accused of murder again after claims he had kidnapped and burnt to death petty drug dealer David Barnshaw
Murder Charge Number 3 – 2010 - Accused of shooting Stephen Akinyemi at his home in Alderley Edge
Arran Coghlan, 39, was arrested in January after a man was found dead at his Cheshire mansion.
Mr Coghlan suffered serious injuries in the incident at his house in Brook Lane in Alderley Edge.
The dead man was Stephen 'Aki' Akinyemi,44, from Cheetham Hill, who was wearing a protective vest.
He suffered stab wounds but died from being shot.
Mr Coghlan, who had been in custody for six months, was released from prison after crown lawyers offered no evidence against him at Liverpool crown court.
Judge Globe QC, recorder of Liverpool, said: “Given that the prosecution have offered no evidence, I formerly record a verdict of not guilty.”
At the time of the incident Mr Coghlan himself called 999 and told police he had shot Akinyemi three times after being attacked with a knife and a gun.
His legal team have always insisted that Mr Coghlan acted in self-defence.
Mr Akinyemi was found by police on February 9.
Mr Coghlan had also suffered injuries that required medical attention.
A spokesman for Cheshire police, who handled the investigation, said: “The criminal investigation conducted into the circumstances leading to Mr Akinyemi’s death was conducted thoroughly, impartially, and professionally.
“In line with the Criminal Procedures and Investigations Act 1996, the police investigation was both comprehensive and transparent, and within the requirements of the laws of disclosure which allows those charged with a criminal offence to understand the basis of the evidence supporting the charges.”
A spokesman for Crown Prosecution Service said: "The decision to charge Mr Coghlan was made on the evidence available at the time and it was expected that further evidence would be available.
"This further evidence, including forensic evidence, has now been received and reviewed by the CPS, which has a duty to keep cases under continuous review to ensure charges are still appropriate.
"In this case, having reviewed evidence not available at the time of charge, the CPS has decided there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction against Mr Coghlan and has today offered no evidence against him on the charge of murder."notorious gangster was languishing in maximum security Wakefield prison on remand waiting to be summonsed to court on a murder charge, now today he is free, as the police drop the case against him and for the third time he beats a murder charge. He was awaiting trial for the murder of Stephen Aki Akinyemi 44, from Cheetham Hill, Manchester,who was found by police in the bathroom of Mr Coghlan's house on 9 February. He had been shot and stabbed
Quote from the CPS representing the police who have now released Coghlan from prison
The CPS Crown Prosecution Service said: "We have today dropped a charge of murder at Liverpool Crown Court against Arran Coghlan.
"Mr Coghlan was charged on 13 February with the murder of Stephen Akinyemi after an incident at Mr Coghlan's home in Alderley Edge.
"The decision to charge Mr Coghlan was made on the evidence available at the time and it was expected that further evidence would be available."
It is now likely that Arran Coghlan will attempt to prosecute the police for wrongful arrest, this career criminal has substantial wealth and connections and he never lets a negative in his life, go unchecked!
He is very well known through out the criminal world and is known by friends and associates as ‘Az’ the same name as the registration letters on his luxury Bentley Turbo car.
He is reputed to be a drugs lord operating as the King Pin of a gang based in the north east of England
Address and Contact Data
Stephen Aki Akinyemi – King of the Hill – Shot dead at Arran Coghlan Home
Legend
Murder Charge Number 1 – 1996 - He was acquitted of the gangland murder of drug baron Chris Little
Murder Charge Number 2 – 2002 - Accused of murder again after claims he had kidnapped and burnt to death petty drug dealer David Barnshaw
Murder Charge Number 3 – 2010 - Accused of shooting Stephen Akinyemi at his home in Alderley Edge
Happened on July 30, 2010
