Jordan Burton, a former Crystal Palace youth player, has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 10 years for the murder of Daniel Allright, who died nearly 16 years after being attacked with a piece of wood.
Burton, then 14, and several other teenagers attacked Mr Allright with items including wood and a bicycle chain in September 2006. The court heard that Burton, who had been released by Crystal Palace the previous year following an injury, left Mr Allright with a serious head injury.
Victim died after epileptic seizure
Mr Allright died aged 31, nearly 16 years after the attack, following an epileptic seizure in the bathroom at home. A post-mortem examination found no evidence of drowning or natural disease, and post traumatic epilepsy was determined as the cause of death.
Burton was arrested at his home in June 2024 on suspicion of murder, having previously failed to attend a voluntary interview after Mr Allright's death. He was found guilty of murder on Tuesday and sentenced at the Old Bailey on Wednesday.
Guilty plea in 2007
Burton was arrested after the attack and initially denied involvement, but in 2007 he pleaded guilty to violent disorder and causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Allright, then aged 15. He received a two-year youth rehabilitation order.
Following the sentencing, Mr Allright's mother, Geraldine Henderson, said in a statement: "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. 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."
Court details of the attack
Burton, from Lewisham, southeast London, had asked Mr Allright if he wanted to fight before being handed a piece of wood, with which he hit Mr Allright multiple times. Two other males joined in, hitting him with weapons while Mr Allright tried to defend himself with his arms up. They all ran off when someone came out of a shop and told them to leave the victim alone.
Duncan Atkinson KC, prosecuting, 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 at his home on March 26, 2022, having suffered a fatal epileptic seizure in the bathroom.
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". But 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.
