Thirty-one-year-old Michael Sutherland, a divorced father, attended a New Year’s Eve party at a property in Bransholme, Hull, East Yorkshire. In the early hours of January 1st, 1996—around three thirty a.m.—a confrontation erupted outside the address at number 2 Fairbourne Close.
Reports indicate that Michael became involved in a dispute, possibly over jewelry, with several men. He was attacked with a large sheath knife, suffering multiple stab wounds to both sides of his body. The blade severed his jugular vein and fully penetrated his left arm.
Despite the severity of his injuries, Michael managed to stagger across the road before collapsing on a grassy area, where he was later found dead.
Humberside Police launched a major investigation into the stabbing. A man named Daniel Greig was eventually charged with Michael’s murder and stood trial in 1997. However, the case collapsed when the prosecution offered no further evidence, leading to the trial being halted. No conviction was secured.
Subsequent reports from local media and unsolved murder databases note that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute anyone successfully. The case is classified as unsolved, with no active prosecutions or convictions recorded.
Michael Sutherland’s death devastated his family. His daughter, Jodie Mulholland, publicly spoke about the profound impact the loss had on her life. Tragically, Jodie passed away in 2018 at the age of twenty-four.
The murder is listed among Hull’s seven unsolved homicides dating back decades, as highlighted in reports mapping over 1,000 cold cases across Britain. Despite periodic reviews of cold cases, Sutherland’s killing remains unresolved, with the investigation described as no longer active in some accounts.
Crime Immemorial 