A man has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 10 years for murder after his victim suffered an epileptic fit and died 15 years after being assaulted aged 16.
Jordan Burton, 34, was aged 14 when he caused a serious head injury to Daniel Allright from which he died in 2022. He was found guilty of murder on Tuesday following a trial at the Old Bailey and was sentenced at the same court on Wednesday.
The Attack in Lewisham
The court had heard how Mr Allright was hit over the head with a piece of wood and bicycle chain during an attack by a group of youths in Lewisham, south-east London, in September 2006.
Afterwards, he told police he had been on his bike with two friends after leaving his home in Oscar Street when a group of males tried to rob them in Friendly Gardens. A black male, later identified by him as Burton, asked him if he wanted to fight, before he was handed a piece of wood which he hit Mr Allright with multiple times.
Two white males joined in the attack, hitting him with weapons while Mr Allright tried to defend himself with his arms up, the court heard. They all ran off when someone came out of a shop and told them to leave the victim alone.
Fatal Seizure and Death
Burton initially denied being involved but later pleaded guilty to violent disorder and unlawful wounding in 2008. Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson KC said Mr Allright suffered his first seizure in March 2007 and was prescribed medication, but his epilepsy worsened in the months before his death.
He died aged 31 at his home on March 26 2022 having suffered a fatal epileptic seizure in the bathroom. A post-mortem examination found no evidence Mr Allright had drowned or suffered any natural disease, and post traumatic epilepsy was found to be the cause of death.
During his murder trial, Burton, of Achilles Street, Lewisham, denied wrongdoing, telling jurors that he had been pressurised into admitting the assault in 2008.
Family Statements and Sentencing
Mr Allright's mother, Geraldine Henderson, said in a statement read by the prosecution during the sentencing: “He had a heart of gold. He had a positive attitude to life. He was never bitter or angry about his situation.
“I'm very proud of my son Daniel for his achievements in life”. She added: “For 16 years I watched my son Daniel have thousands of seizures. For 16 years my son Daniel was surviving every day. I will never get over losing my son.”
Mr Allright's sister, Victoria Henderson, said in a statement through the prosecution: “We watched him fight every day to live. He wanted to live but his life became survival mode.
“Watching your baby brother go through hell for year upon year… watching him die by degrees over more than 15 years… that broke our family.”
Nick Corsellis, defending, said Burton was selected by Crystal Palace Football Club to be a potential athlete aged seven and the club provided “a very positive setting for him”. Burton was released by the club aged 13 due to an injury, which meant “suddenly he had so much time on his hands”, Mr Corsellis said.
Judge Anthony Leonard KC said: “The whole incident between you lasted for a matter of minutes and ended with you hitting Daniel Allright with the stick, in my judgment more than once.”
Mr Allright had two operations and was in hospital for weeks, then was “subject to regular and debilitating seizures”, the judge added. Listing aggravating features, the judge said: “You had gone to the park to smoke cannabis before the incident, you used a piece of wood as a weapon, the offence was committed in the context of group violence involving at least three other people and you took the leading role, it took place in an area where there were members of the public.”
Burton was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 10 years.
