So what is the point of this thread if we can't speculate on who the writers will make Papa charming's killer?

It's a thin line. Some of the speculation turned towards discussing other matters and not just the sole topic of David's father's killer. Basically, beware of tangents and arguing over whose right about what path the writers will take.

Just my take.

Ok, a little clarification. I agree that my statement was confusing.

Speculation about who stabbed Papa Charming (or if he was even stabbed at all) is the point of this thread. That is OK. 

My issue is with statements, like "The writers aren't going to acknowledge Regina killing Graham or Hook doing anything wrong..." and similarly stated comments.

First, the statement is totally off topic. What does acknowledgment of Regina or Killian have to do with Papa Charmings murder?

And second, and the main point of my warning, is that he phrasing of the statement has crossed from speculation into assertion. The statment basically asserts as fact that the writers will not take a particular action, without any room for doubt. And nobody here knows enough to assert absolutely what the writers will or will not address, or how they will address it should they choose to. And THAT is the type of inflammatory statement that needs to stop.

That's exactly what I was trying to point out here before you keep removing my comments.

I think it will be too predictable if it's Hook. And I don't see how he and Charming would be able to bond from something like that. I am kinda hoping the writers surprise me for once and go in a different direction.

And then there is the cover up. Somehow, his family receive misinformation about how he died. They think he got drunk at a tavern and fell into the water on his journey home. If it was Hook, I don't see why he would create a cover story. He was just a drunken pirate who would have done it on a whim. I don't think he would have given it a second thought.

We have to think who would be around then, who could get involved with Charming's father, murder him and then go into the effort to cover it up. It was at least fifty years ago when you take into account the curse.

However, knowing the writers, they are so predictable the most popular theory about Hook will be right, and they will create some insane story for it.

It's possible that the "cover story" didn't come from the murderer but from Ruth. Perhaps that's what she told David to protect him from knowing the truth. That would explain why the Evil Queen and Rumple knew the truth - because it was obvious.

Honestly, I think we're going to find out that Papa C was not murdered, but was in fact the murderer. And then, after the murder, he faked his own death (using the murdered body, and possibly a glamour spell, or else just mangling the body beyond recognition) and went away to hide (possibly to the LoUS). And as a final twist, he's going to ultimately end up appearing in Storybrooke.

At least that story deals more directly with opportunity (which at this point we have only Rumple and Killian that even have a chance of opportunity, or King George as an outside possibility). It also allows telling of Papa C's story to fill in his Motive without having to contrive another potentially conflicting backstory for Rumple or Killian.

I like the idea that he is still alive and that he faked his own death. But why, is still a question. I don't think the reason for faking his death will be quite a simple as trying to escape justice. It somehow has to be connected to a bigger picture. Perhaps Rumple was involved in some way? Rumple and Charming's father already knew each other. Didn't Ruth once say that her husband regretted giving James up right away? Maybe he tried to get him back.

Ruth did say that Papa C regretted the decision to give up James.

And in my current headcanon, Papa C is not necessarily escaping justice when he runs. he's escaping retribution.  I mean, perhaps someone was trying to kill him, and he managed to turn the tables. And when he did, he saw an opportunity to escape while everyone (including his own family, sadly) thought he was dead.

I think David's father might have taken a ride (then stroll) to a certain king's castle (George) and tried to get his son back. Then, maybe some sort of huntsman-type ordeal happened where George sends some guards to kill him, but he finds away to escape and after some thought of going back to his family, he goes on to another realm...or should I say Land *winkwink*