A shopkeeper who fought back and killed a knifeman who tried to rob him of the day’s takings has been told that he will not face a murder charge.

Tony Singh, 34, was attacked by Liam Kilroe, 25, a wanted criminal, outside his Lifestyle Express store in Skelmersdale, Lancashire.

Witnesses saw Kilroe, who was a convicted armed robber, smash Mr Singh’s car window and reach in for the takings. In the struggle Kilroe was seen staggering away clutching the knife to his chest.

Mr Singh was arrested as a matter of routine by Lancashire police on suspicion of murder. Although he was released on police bail, he was told that he could face a charge of murder, manslaughter or assault.

Mr Singh, who is a popular figure in the West Lancashire community, was said by his solicitor to be relieved by the decision not to prosecute.

The Crown Prosecution Service concluded that Kilroe, who died as a result of a single stab wound from his own knife, had tried to rob Mr Singh of his day’s takings. The shopkeeper resisted and defended himself in the struggle that followed, it said.

John Dilworth, the assistant prosecutor for southwest Lancashire, said it was important that members of the public felt that they could defend themselves from attack. “While this case does not concern a householder defending themselves against an intruder, it has very similar considerations. We have considered our prosecution policy and guidance on householders and the use of force,” he said.

“The CPS understands that anxiety may sometimes be felt by innocent members of the public if they are obliged to defend themselves from attack. But the law protects the law-abiding, and the Director of Public Prosecutions is determined to ensure that those who use reasonable force in defending themselves will enjoy the full protection of the law. They will not be prosecuted.”

Detective Superintendent Mick Gradwell, who led the police involvement in Mr Singh’s arrest, had recommended that no action should be taken against the shopkeeper, and said that he was pleased with the outcome.

He said: “Mr Singh will say that he did not at any time during the struggle take hold of the knife, but it has been a frenzied incident where there has been head-butting, punching, biting and the knife has been used as weapon.

“When the paramedics and police turned up, Mr Kilroe was on the floor and Mr Singh was sat on top of Mr Kilroe with his knife in his hand.”

Mr Singh received knife injuries to his back and neck during the incident, which occured at about 9pm on February 17, but he returned to work shortly after the incident.

It emerged that Kilroe had a long history of burglary, assault and armed robbery. At the time of his death he was being sought by police for breaching his bail conditions.

He had failed to appear before a judge to answer charges of armed robbery. On one of the charges he was accused of striking a postmaster on the head with an imitation gun and, in another, of threatening a woman behind a shop counter with a handgun before making off with £8,000.

Mr Singh cancelled a press conference that he was due to hold yesterday, saying that the case had proved too stressful.

His friends said that he was a relieved man.

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