A man has been jailed for life for murder after his victim suffered an epileptic fit and died 16 years after being assaulted as a teenager.
Jordan Burton, 33, was aged 14 when he caused a serious head injury to Daniel Allright, then 16, which led to his death in 2022 aged 31. On Wednesday he was sentenced at the Old Bailey to life to serve a minimum of 10 years after being found guilty of murder.
Attack in Lewisham
Mr Allright was hit over the head with a piece of wood by Burton during an attack by a group of youths in Lewisham, south-east London, in September 2006. Mr Allright suffered from epilepsy following the attack when he was also hit with a bike chain.
He was found dead in his bathroom by his mother in March 2022, after she went to check on him after he stopped replying to her messages. The post-mortem examination concluded that the cause of death was post-traumatic epilepsy, meaning he had suffered a fatal epileptic attack.
Conviction and sentencing
Burton initially denied being involved in the attack but later pleaded guilty to violent disorder and unlawful wounding in 2008. After Mr Allright's death he was charged with murder. During his trial, Burton denied wrongdoing, telling jurors that he had been pressurised into admitting the assault, but he was convicted by the jury.
Detective Sergeant Chris Taylor, the investigating officer from the Specialist Crime Command, said: “Burton’s brutal attack in 2006 had a devastating impact on both Daniel and his family for 16 years and also resulted in his tragic death. For more than half of his life, Daniel suffered with debilitating brain conditions such as epilepsy, seizures and aphasia, which meant he had difficulty verbalising words, all because of Burton’s abhorrent actions that day.”
Details of the assault
Mr Allright had told police he had been on his bike with two friends after leaving his home in Oscar Street, Lewisham, 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.
Mr Taylor said: “This was a challenging investigation due to the amount of time that had passed, for example we were not able to speak to all of the original witnesses from 2006. However, we were determined to secure justice for Daniel and his family and I am pleased we have been able to achieve that. I would like to praise Daniel’s family for the courage and bravery they have shown throughout the trial and the investigation. No mother should have to find their son dead because of the reckless and unnecessary actions of another. I hope they have now found a small measure of comfort knowing Burton is now behind bars for Daniel’s murder.”
Burton, of Achilles Street, Lewisham, will be sentenced by Judge Anthony Leonard KC on Wednesday.
