Murder victim’s son’s tragic death

Aug 4 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

THE son of murdered David ‘Noddy’ Rice has died – a week after he was taken to hospital after a house party. Ryan Burn, 20, of Saint Vincent Street, South Shields, was one of several people taken to hospital following a party which left one man, Callum Taylor, dead.

Mr Burn spent a week in a critical condition following the incident at a house in Hampden Street, South Shields.

His family had been at his bedside since he was admitted at 9pm last Sunday, but last night police confirmed he had lost his fight for life.

A spokesman said: “A 20-year-old man who was hospitalised after an incident in Hampden Street last week has died.

“Following the notification of his family, it can be confirmed he is Ryan Burn, from South Shields. A post-mortem examination is expected to be carried out.” Father-of-seven Mr Rice was shot and killed at the Marsden Lea car park in South Shields on May 24, 2006.

He was due to meet Steven Bevans, who lured him to his death at the hands of masked gunmen.

The search for his killer is ongoing but police believe fugitive Allan Foster flew from his Spanish hideaway to carry out the assassination with a silenced semi-automatic gun. Last week, a post-mortem examination carried out on 24-year-old Callum Taylor proved inconclusive and further toxicology tests are due to take place.

A total of 16 suspects have now been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs and all have been bailed.