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Video: Salford mum's appeal to catch son's killers
by Stuart Owen
The mother of a teenager who was brutally murdered five years ago has made an emotional appeal to the public to help put his killers behind bars. Susan Croft of Eccles lost her 19-year old son, Paul Croft, when he was badly beaten with a baseball bat on the 25th March 2005, near the Lord Nelson Pub in Pendlebury. The incident resulted in severe head injuries to Paul. He died in hospital a week later on the 31st March. SalfordOnline featured Susan’s previous appeal on the three year anniversary of Paul’s death, when she visited the scene of the attack for the first time back in 2008. Now another appeal has been made, with a £50,000 reward on offer to anyone that can help find and convict Paul’s killers. Paul’s girlfriend was expecting twins when he was murdered, now his children are growing up without a father. Paul had spent the day of March 25th, 2005, with his mother, her partner and one of his friends. They were last seen drinking in the Newmarket pub in Swinton. Paul's mother and her partner left her son and his 19-year-old friend, who is from the Pendlebury area, in the Newmarket pub at around 7.30pm. At 8.10pm police received two phone calls from two different women saying a man was being attacked near to the Lord Nelson pub. When officers arrived shortly after they found Paul on the ground with the severe head injuries. There was no one else in the area when police arrived. The path where Paul was found is known locally as the Sandy Path. The path leads from Nelson Fold onto an area of grassland. Paul was taken to Hope Hospital where he died one week later, on 31 March 2005 from the head injuries sustained in the attack. A baseball bat was recovered near to the path on the night of the attack. It has been examined by forensic scientists and Paul's injuries were consistent with this type of weapon. The bat is two and a half feet in length and is all black. It has white writing on it with the words, 'Louisville Slugger, Youth Baseball Slugger Series'. A total of 13 people were arrested in connection with Paul's murder and were all subsequently released without charge. The attack was completely unprovoked and believed to have been witnessed by more than one person. Senior Investigating Officer Bob Ashton said: "Paul’s family has not forgotten what happened that night and nor have we. ”We remain as determined as ever to find whoever launched that brutal attack on Paul five years ago. "You may think that what you know is just a minor detail and that a long time has passed and you’re uncertain about coming forward. To us, what you know or saw might be a crucial piece of the jigsaw. ”Clearly you cannot put a price on a life but we are offering a reward of £50,000 for anyone who can provide us with information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. "We can offer support to witnesses and there are measures available to the courts to protect their identities. We will do everything we can to reduce the fear of helping the police." Anyone with any information should call 0161 856 5961 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. See video for interviews with Susan Croft and Bob Ashton.
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