One year after a Hampshire dad-of-four was stabbed to death police have still not been able to prosecute his killer.

Michael Freshwater, 49, confronted three drug dealers on April 29 last year with a sawn-off shotgun – and seconds later he was dying from stab wounds.

Police say they know who was at the death scene but there will be no prosecution because it cannot be proved who wielded the knife.

An inquest on March 2 earlier this year heard that Mr Freshwater had gone with the gun to Westridge Road, Portswood, with the intention to rob the trio, the police believe.

The shotgun was fired into the ceiling and in the struggle Mr Freshwater, of Carnation Road, Swaythling, was stabbed in the back.

The hearing was told the dealers were Kevin Suika, Tristan Pope and Dantai Thompson, who have all since been jailed for drug dealing.

But the inquest heard that the Crown Prosecution Service has decided not to prosecute them for murder. No-one could prove who had stabbed Mr Freshwater.

Temporary Det Sgt Steven Norridge told the inquest that the alarm was raised by an occupant of the flat at 4.08pm on April 29 last year. Police found it in a chaotic state with two dogs spreading blood through the flat.

They later found the 12-bore single-barrelled sawn-off weapon in the garden. In Mr Freshwater’s jeans were three unused cartridges. His DNA was found on the weapon, as was Suika’s.

DS Norridge said he could not say with certainty who had wielded the weapon. “It’s our assumption that Michael attended the flat to rob the three dealers, but there is no evidence to support this.”

Forensic scientist Jane Rice said Mr Freshwater’s blood, in spray droplets, was found on Pope’s trainers. Det Sgt Norridge said the fact that the blood was aspirated showed it was very soon after the stabbing.

Home Office pathologist Basil Purdue said Mr Freshwater was stabbed three times, the fatal blow 18cm deep.

Also contributing to his death was cocaine and heroin and, judging by the scars on his elbows, Mr Freshwater, an unemployed plasterer, was a chronic intravenous drug user.

The level of heroin would have suppressed Mr Freshwater’s breathing, contributing to death, said Dr Purdue.

The senior coroner, Grahame Short, gave a narrative verdict. “The police can’t prove who stabbed Michael. The Coroners Rules do not permit me to name a person criminally liable for causing the death. This is an inquest, not a criminal trial.”

After the hearing, Det Insp Simon Baker from Hampshire Constabulary’s Major Crime Team said: “At this time, upon the advice of the CPS, there is not enough evidence available to pursue a charge against any of those who were arrested in connection with the killing of Michael, aka ‘Micky’, Freshwater.

“We will re-examine the circumstances if and when new information becomes available.”

At the time, a CPS spokesperson declined to discuss the case in detail but said: “After a review of the evidence provided by the police, a decision was made that there was insufficient evidence to support a realistic prospect of a conviction. The decision was made in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.”