Alderley Edge businessman Arran Coghlan has threatened to sue Cheshire Police after he was cleared of a third underworld killing.
As a judge told Mr Coghlan the charges were dropped, he responded by video link with a simple ‘thank you’.
But after returning home from Wakefield Prison to his family and £2m converted chapel on Brook Lane to be welcomed by around 25 relatives and close friends, he said: "I will sue Cheshire Police.
He added: "I find it entirely unacceptable and I don’t do getting stitched up by the police. This has sent out a clear message. I am always on guard and always ready to defend myself.
"They tried to make out as if I had brought the weapon but there was no evidence of that."
But Cheshire Police have defended their investigation.
A spokesman for Cheshire police, who handled the investigation, said: "The criminal investigation conducted into the circumstances leading to Mr Akinyemi’s death was conducted thoroughly, impartially, and professionally."
Meanwhile, Alderley Edge villagers have been left reeling at the explosive chain of events leading to Mr Coghlan’s release – the discovery of Stephen ‘Aki’ Akinyemi’s body at his Brook Lane home, his arrest and the six months he’s spent behind bars.
He was released from jail after prosecutors dropped a murder charge, clearing him of killing Stephen ‘Aki’ Akinyemi.
Mr Coghlan claimed the pair had become locked in a deadly struggle at his £2m home in Alderley Edge in February.
Mr Akinyemi, allegedly part of a Cheetham Hill gang, was found shot in the head and stabbed in the chest on a bathroom floor.
Mr Coghlan, who also suffered stab wounds, insisted he had acted in self-defence.
He was cleared by a judge on Thursday after new forensic evidence came to light.
A speck of blue paint on a knife proved crucial. It was found on the blade used during the lethal clash.
Police believed it could be linked to Mr Coghlan by matching it to paint elsewhere in the house. But when similar paint was also found in the home of Mr Akinyemi – thought to be a senior figure in a Cheetham Hill gang – the case collapsed.It is the third time Mr Coghlan, 39, has been cleared of a gang-related murder.
In 1996, he was acquitted of killing Chris Little – two years after Mr Little was shot dead at the wheel of his Mercedes.
Then, in 2003, Mr Coghlan was found not guilty of leading the gang that tortured and killed drug dealer David Barnshaw, 32, after it emerged police had failed to pass on information about another suspect.
Mr Akinyemi, 44, was found dead at Mr Coghlan’s home in February. Mr Coghlan himself called 999 and told police he had shot Mr Akinyemi three times after being attacked with a knife and a gun.
He was arrested, charged with murder, and spent six months in custody before being released from Wakefield prison when the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) dropped the case.
Judge Globe QC, Recorder of Liverpool, told Liverpool Crown Court: "Given that the prosecution have offered no evidence, I formerly record a verdict of not guilty."
Mr Coghlan watched proceedings on a video link and said: "Thank you."
Anne Whyte QC, prosecuting, said the crown’s case had been based on ‘reasonable inferences’ drawn from forensic evidence.
She said four shots had been fired from a 9mm Beretta. The shots to Akinyemi’s head went through his brain and killed him. One bullet lodged in a wall. Mr Coghlan had several injuries including one to his neck that appeared to be a stab wound, Ms Whyte said.
Police removed a knife from Mr Akinyemi’s hand.
Ms Whyte said blood distribution didn’t support the contention there had been ‘a dramatic struggle’ but experts could not rule out ‘grappling at close quarters’.
She said forensic evidence appeared to suggest someone had sat on the bed with a knife and a gun.
Ms Whyte then said there had been a ‘recent development’ in when the prosecution received a statement on July 22 which showed the knife could have belonged to Akinyemi.
An inquest is to be held into the death of Stephen Akinyemi. Cheshire Coroner, Nicholas Rheinberg will conduct the hearing. A spokeswoman for his office said: "No date has yet been fixed as the file is incomplete. An inquest will take place."
A statement from Cheshire Police said the investigation was ‘both comprehensive and transparent.’
It added: "The criminal investigation conducted by Cheshire Police into the circumstances leading to Mr Akinyemi’s death was conducted thoroughly, impartially, and professionally.
"In line with the Criminal Procedures and Investigations Act 1996, the police investigation was both comprehensive and transparent, and within the requirements of the laws of disclosure which allows those charged with a criminal offence to understand the basis of the evidence supporting the charges."
The CPS said they expected more evidence to be available after initially charging Mr Coghlan with murder.
A spokesman added: "The decision to charge Mr Coghlan was made on the evidence available at the time and it was expected that further evidence would be available. This further evidence, including forensic evidence, has now been received and reviewed by the CPS, which has a duty to keep cases under continuous review to ensure charges are still appropriate.
"In this case, having reviewed evidence not available at the time of charge, the CPS has decided there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction against Mr Coghlan and has today ( July 29) offered no evidence against him on the charge of murder."
