A Coventry woman says her family has ‘lost everything’ after a stabbing that left her father seriously injured and his friend dead. Charlotte Steven said her dad, Darren Pearson, and his pal Anthony Wilson were allegedly attacked in Earlsdon.
Charlotte, 25, from Wyken, said her dad had lived with Anthony for around 12 years on Newcombe Road. Both had been at home on March 15 this year when they were violently stabbed.
Police were called, but Anthony was pronounced dead, and Darren was found to have suffered life-changing facial injuries. Charlotte said her dad has been deeply affected since losing his ‘brother’ Anthony.
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Charlotte said: “We had the most horrendous news a family could ever receive, my dad had been stabbed, and as was his best friend, Anthony Wilson. Unfortunately, Anthony passed away, and my dad has facial and neck scars for life, as well as mental trauma. However, he was very lucky and managed to get help from neighbours and the general public, which we as a family are eternally grateful for.”
Charlotte described the profound impact the stabbing has had on her dad, saying: “He is definitely a lot more withdrawn, and he has a lot more bad days now than good. He has lost his house and everything.
“It is obviously not just the attack that has happened. He has literally lost his whole life, his friend, his home, the way he lived. He has lost everything.
“We always talk about Anthony. His name will never die in our family.”
James Ritchie, 51, was charged with murder and attempted murder and appeared at Coventry Magistrates’ Court in March. He pleaded not guilty and is expected to face a jury trial in June 2026.
Charlotte and her family will be climbing Mount Snowdon on Thursday, November 20, for anti-knife crime charity the Ben Kinsella Trust. She has launched a GoFundMe page and hopes to raise £1,000.
Addressing the growing issue of knife crime in the West Midlands, Charlotte said: “It is definitely on the rise at the minute, and it is quite scary. You do not realise how serious it is until it happens to you or someone that is close to you.”
On why she decided to raise money for the Ben Kinsella Trust, Charlotte explained: “It focuses on educating young people and the general public on the dangers of knife crime and to make positive decisions to stay safe, and they continue to campaign for action and justice for people who have been affected by knife crime. Over 70 per cent of people who considered carrying a knife pledged to never carry one again after attending a workshop by the Ben Kinsella Trust.”
Donations via GoFundMe.
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