THE brother of a man killed outside a nightclub is continuing his fight for justice, 20 years on.

Michael Abatan has pleaded for witnesses to come forward with information about the death of his brother Jay outside the Ocean Rooms nightclub in Morley Street, Brighton, in January 1999.

The pair had been out celebrating Jay’s promotion with PriceWaterhouseCoopers but were attacked as they waited for a taxi.

Jay suffered multiple injuries after hitting his head on the pavement and died five days later in hospital. No one faced trial for his death.

There were two police investigations, but neither has led to a suspect being brought to trial.

It led Michael Abatan, now 52, to say he has lost trust in Sussex Police, after Avon and Somerset Police found failings in how the investigations were handled.

He has spent the past 20 years battling to bring those responsible to justice and will hold a candlelit vigil outside the police station in John Street, Brighton, tomorrow from 4pm onwards.

He said: “I am intending to mark my brother’s death on the January 29 and would like to remind people out there who are protecting these men that it is not too late to come forward and do the right thing.

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“I am told that there are some witnesses who are still wrestling with their conscience but scared of repercussions.

“My message to them is it is never easy to do what is right but they should have courage to correct this injustice.”

Mr Abatan believes there was more than one man involved in his brother’s death and said he has “never had a satisfactory answer” as to why he was killed.

He also believes the attack was racially motivated because of his family’s mixed race heritage. His father is Nigerian.

Speaking to The Argus he said he felt the police had not invested proper resources for a murder inquiry because of the colour of his skin.

He said: “We believe one of the reasons we have been denied justice is due to our colour. I believe it was a racially motivated attack. Sussex Police were criticised at the time for fundamental mistakes in the investigation.

“For example the year my brother was killed he was the only homicide victim in Sussex not to have his death investigated with the use of the Holmes Computer, a murder investigation tool.

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“The enquiry team set up for his death was staffed and funded at the same level as an assault, despite his injuries leading to his death.”

Sussex Police were contacted for comment. Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Nick May previously said the force has “apologised publicly and often for failings in 1999”.

He said the force had “completely updated and reorganised the way it investigates” crimes since the case.

He said officers were “committed to investigating any new information” if anything came to light but “there were no grounds to reopen an investigation in the absence of further evidence”.