The first day of the celebrated Notting Hill Carnival was in full swing on Sunday, August 30th, 1987, when Michael Galvin, 23, was stabbed to death in front of dancers in the parade.
Mr. Galvin, a self-employed electrical engineer, was selling cans of Coca-Cola to passers-by near his home when he was stabbed in the chest by a youth. A witness said the youth had grabbed a can of soft drink from his stall as he passed in a group of about 10 other youths.
The victim was the father of a 16-month-old daughter and his wife was six months pregnant. He had to be carried through the crowds because he could not be reached by ambulance. He died later that day in hospital.
In December 1988, a 23-year-old man was convicted of the murder at a second trial the first jury having failed to agree. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommendation that he serve at least 20 years. But in March 1990, it was alleged that the police had beaten up the principal prosecution witness and falsified witness statements. The conviction was quashed and the former suspect left the court a free man.