Jack Woodley, an 18-year-old, was killed at the Houghton Feast funfair on 16 October last year after a trivial incident involving a kiss. Ten youths have been found guilty of his murder, but the motive remains unclear. Prosecutors stated that Jack was targeted for a 'trivial reason', yet none of the defendants provided an explanation during the 11-week trial.
Jack, described as 5ft 7in and 10st 8lb, had done nothing wrong, even according to his killers. He had gone to the funfair with friends and was challenged to a fight by a stranger, but he walked away. The attack, which lasted about 80 seconds, involved punching, kicking, stamping, and a fatal stab wound.
A 16-year-old defendant, who initiated the assault from behind, claimed he could not remember why he attacked Jack. When pressed by prosecutor Mark McKone QC, he said he 'just can't remember' and that it 'went out me head'. McKone described this lack of memory as 'particularly chilling'.
The 15-year-old who wielded the knife admitted to the stabbing but denied intent. He had bought the knife six months earlier in a city with a knife-crime problem. He claimed he went home to get his coat and, in a 'moment of madness', took the knife after hearing trouble might be brewing. He said he only intended to scare others, yet he waded into the melee with the blade.
Jack suffered multiple injuries, but the single knife wound proved fatal. The 15-year-old expressed surprise at being in the dock with nine others, asserting they were not responsible for Jack's death. The jury had to consider why many youths had their hoods up, possibly to conceal identities, and the knife-wielder's decision to arm himself just 20 minutes before the attack.
