Posted on 04/29/2025 11:41:30 AM PDT by Red Badger
Matt Petgrave, the man who slashed the throat of ice hockey player Adam Johnson in October 2023, will not face any charges, UK prosecutors announced on Tuesday.
Petgrave was arrested in November 2023 on suspicion of manslaughter and was immediately released on bail.
Former NHL player Adam Johnson, 29, died from a massive injury to his neck during a game in 2023.
The former Pittsburgh Penguins player took a skate blade to the neck. He was playing in England for the Nottingham Panthers when an opposing player’s blade cut his neck during a ‘collision.’
Video of the incident shows Matt Petgrave appear to intentionally kick his skate toward Johnson’s throat.
The skate blade sliced Johnson’s throat. He later died at the hospital.
WATCH (warning: graphic):
VIDEO AT LING......................
On Tuesday, Michael Quinn, the Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor, said his office concluded that there was no real prospect of conviction for a criminal offense.
“Following a thorough police investigation and a comprehensive review of all the evidence by the CPS, we have concluded that there is not a realistic prospect of conviction for any criminal offense and so there will not be a prosecution. Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Adam Johnson,” Michael Quinn said, according to the BBC.
The BBC reported:
No criminal charges will be brought against a professional ice hockey player arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the death of Adam Johnson.
The Nottingham Panthers player, 29, died after suffering a neck injury from a skate during a collision with Sheffield Steelers’ Matt Petgrave on 28 October 2023.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it worked with South Yorkshire Police to determine whether any criminal charges should be brought.
“We have concluded that there is not a realistic prospect of conviction for any criminal offence and so there will not be a prosecution,” Michael Quinn, deputy chief crown prosecutor, said.
Mr Quinn added: “This was a shocking and deeply upsetting incident.
“The CPS and South Yorkshire Police have worked closely together to determine whether any criminal charges should be brought against the other ice hockey player involved.
“Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Adam Johnson.”
there is a lot of mass behind those two knives they are all wearing on their feet. the only thing stopping them from dying is everyone being considerate of everyone else. now we have (in the most optimistic light) someone who does not share that consideration. that would keep me off of the ice.
There is absolutely no doubt it was intentional, but the perp was black and the victim white so no harm, no foul.
Sadly.
That player was murdered!
What a travesty of justice!
That azzhole should be in prison for the rest of his life! IT WAS NO ACCIDENT!
I am not a hockey player, but I have a good friend who grew up in Detroit, played and coached hockey all of his life and said the same thing, basically for the same reasons that you have stated.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.