Anthony Junior Murray, 25, has been jailed for at least 18 years for stabbing his sister's boyfriend to death in a row over dogs, with the attack caught on a pet camera.
Murray used a combat knife to stab Joe Burton, 23, once in the back at his flat on Tarn Drive in Bury, Greater Manchester, on New Year's Eve. The incident occurred at 11.49pm on December 31, 2025.
Row over dogs escalates
Minshull Street Crown Court heard that Murray's sister, Kayleigh, had an on-off relationship with Mr Burton, which was "sadly blighted by alcohol abuse on both sides," prosecutor Rob Hall said. The pair had a child together in 2024, but their issues with alcohol continued.
Murray invited his sister to the flat, where she arrived with Mr Burton. After letting off fireworks, tensions rose. Mr Hall said: "There are a number of things in the mix by this stage, intoxication, lateness of the hour, the state of Kayleigh Murray and the tensions between the Murray family and Joe Burton."
Before the stabbing, Murray and Mr Burton argued over Murray's dogs, Zarla and Beau Beau. Murray said: "What do you want me to do, put my dogs in a cage for you?" and later told Mr Burton "I'll slit your f****** throat." A struggle followed, after which Murray stabbed Mr Burton once to the back.
Lies and cover-up
After the stabbing, Murray did not help Mr Burton or call 999, but instead called his family, being "selective" in what he told them. He later claimed to police that "another person had stabbed" Mr Burton, and that he had been out all day. The attack was captured on the dog camera in a "remarkable stroke of luck," Mr Hall said.
When shown the footage, Murray said: "I cannot give an account of what went on in the footage or what I was thinking at the time as I blanked this out and I am not aware of the happenings." He claimed self-defence during the trial, but jurors found him guilty of murder by a majority of 11 to one.
Sentencing
Sentencing, Judge Maurice Greene said: "It is not my task to put a value on Joe Burton's life because no sentence can do that. Criminal law can not restore him to his family. But the court must recognise the seriousness of the harm caused, and I do."
Murray was ordered to serve a minimum of 18 years in prison before being considered for parole.
