Lee Williams, 19, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years and 74 days for the murder of Vernard Murray, 26, in a revenge attack in Cheetham Hill, Manchester. Two other teenagers, Riley McDermott, 18, and John Harte, 19, were found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to eight years and six years in a young offenders institution, respectively.
Details of the Attack
The incident occurred on October 23 last year at approximately 2:20 pm. CCTV footage showed Williams and McDermott leaping from a hired silver BMW that had pursued a silver Ford Focus driven by Mr. Murray. The BMW obstructed the Focus, and both teenagers, clad in black and wearing balaclavas, rushed to opposite sides of the vehicle wielding knives. Mr. Murray managed to drive away, but the BMW chased him into Manswood Drive, causing a dramatic collision that flipped the Ford Focus onto its roof.
Prosecutor David Temkin KC told Manchester Crown Court that Mr. Murray sustained his first stab wound to the upper chest from Williams while trapped in the overturned vehicle. He fled but was chased into an alleyway, where he suffered a second stab wound to the buttocks, also inflicted by Williams. After scaling a fence, Mr. Murray collapsed on a patio behind a property on Cardinal Street, where he had sought help. He was taken to hospital but died during emergency surgery.
Aftermath and Evidence
Williams and McDermott returned to the BMW, where Harte was a front passenger. The vehicle was driven by a fourth unidentified male. The BMW was abandoned on Modbury Walk, and the trio fled. McDermott later called an Uber, and CCTV footage showed them celebrating. Mr. Temkin noted: "Footage shows a clear gesture of celebration and congratulation between McDermott and Williams, who performed a fist bump. Seven seconds later, Williams demonstrated his stabbing movement." Harte was recorded on Ring doorbell footage saying: "Yo, can you do that mission for me? Burn it. The car." The BMW was torched less than two hours later. Williams and McDermott changed their clothing, and Williams admitted putting his in the washing machine. Upon arrest, he lied to officers, claiming he had been at home all day.
Sentencing and Victim Impact
Passing sentence, Mr. Justice Andrew Baker stated: "This was a group attack, with planning and premeditation. You were all motivated by revenge." In a victim personal statement, Mr. Murray's father Patrick Murray said: "He wasn't just my child, he was my pride, my hope for the future and a huge part of who I am. I am left wondering how people can be so callous to attack another person with a knife." His mother Nicola Costello added: "Those responsible are given numbers to serve sentences, while I am left with a cemetery plot to visit and a lifetime of grief." His partner Tynne Connolly said: "Although the court will sentence those responsible today, my son and I will continue serving our own life sentence of grief."
Defense Arguments
For Williams, John Harrison KC said he did not dispute the level of force was 'severe' but noted: "There was a plan to inflict harm, it seems that Lee Williams went beyond that." Richard Littler KC, for McDermott, argued he showed remorse and accepted responsibility. Stephen Moses KC, for Harte, claimed there was an 'intent to scare and chase, but not to hurt anyone,' adding that Harte did not leave the car and was unarmed. Mr. Justice Baker dismissed the defense's narrative, stating: "The story you gave to the jury was you intended to scare Vernard Murray away - it's obvious nonsense."
Police Statement
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Naismith from Greater Manchester Police's Major Incident Team said: "Today's sentencing reflects the devastating consequences of a shocking attack that claimed the life of Vernard Murray. This was a truly shocking case, occurring in a residential area, with fatal consequences. No sentence can undo the loss they have experienced, but we hope today's outcome can provide them with some measure of justice and closure."
