A four-week trial into the death of Vernard Murray in Cheetham Hill has concluded
Vernard Murray(Image: Facebook)
A teenager has been found guilty of murdering a man in a ‘planned and targeted attack’, with two others convicted of manslaughter. Vernard Murray, 26, died after twice being stabbed in Cheetham Hill on October 23 last year.
In the aftermath, one of the teenagers was captured making a ‘stabbing gesture’ before ordering an Uber. A BMW used in the killing was later torched.
Lee Williams, 19, (11/08/2006); John Harte, 19, (08/01/2007); and Riley McDermott, 18, (16/03/2008); all denied murder. Williams pleaded guilty to an alternative offence of manslaughter. Harte and McDermott denied the alternative charge of manslaughter.
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Following a four-week trial at Manchester Crown Court, jurors unanimously convicted Williams of murder on Friday (May 15). Harte and McDermott were convicted of manslaughter. They will be sentenced later this year.
Attackers were carrying knife after car crash
The trial heard that at around 2.20pm on October 23 last year, a witness reported hearing a car being driven at speed before there was a loud bang on Hambridge Close, Cheetham Hill.
She then saw two males at each side of the car, a silver Ford Focus being driven by Mr Murray. Williams and McDermott earlier jumped out of a silver BMW, which was seen to chase the Ford Focus.
Both were said to have been ‘dressed from head to toe in black’, with each carrying a knife and wearing a balaclava. David Temkin KC, prosecuting said: “These two members of the group were the knifemen. Their role was to carry out the stabbing.”
The court was shown CCTV. The two men were seen getting out of the BMW after it blocked the path of the Focus. Mr Murray ‘managed to drive’ his car out of Hambridge Close, but the two men got back into the BMW, which then sped into Manswood Drive.
The same witness then came across the scene on Manswood Drive, with Mr Murray’s car upside following a collision with the BMW.
The court heard Mr Murray was stabbed first in the upturned car before he ran away, chased by Williams and McDermott. Mr Temkin said: “Once found, Vernard Murray was the subject of a determined attack.
“First, the BMW tried to block the path of Vernard Murray’s Ford Focus. Second, one of the knifemen tried to open the Ford Focus’ doors either to drag Vernard Murray out so that he could be attacked, or so that he could be attacked whilst he was inside the car.
“Third, there was a pursuit that led to a very serious attack with knives. It was violent, brutal and ultimately fatal. In those actions, these defendants revealed their purpose very clearly.”
Harte was said to have been a front seat passenger. Mr Temkin said Harte, who remained in the car during the stabbing, ‘shared a common purpose’ and was ‘as deeply involved in this planned attack as the others’. “This was a group of four,” the prosecutor said.
“Whilst they each had different roles, all of them knew what their plan was and all of them shared the same intention.” Mr Murray was said to have fled from his upturned car followed by Williams and McDermott.
‘He was no threat to anyone’
Mr Murray was able to run after the first stabbing attack, which was inflicted by Williams.
“Vernard Murray was no threat to anyone. He was running away. His back was to the knifeman. The knifeman intentionally thrust his large blade into the back of Mr Murray as he was running away.”
The court heard a second stab wound was inflicted in an alleyway nearby as Mr Murray, who was ‘potentially trapped’ at the time, tried to climb over the fence.
“The Prosecution can’t say whether it was Williams or McDermott who inflicted that second stab wound,” Mr Temkin said. “It could have been either of them. Both Williams and McDermott had pursued Mr Murray with vigour and at speed. As it turns out, his attackers knew that they had done their job. They turned around and left Vernard Murray to die.”
The court heard Mr Murray collapsed on a patio at the back of a house on Cardinal Street, where he had banged on the windows for help. He was taken to hospital where he had emergency surgery, but sadly was pronounced dead.
The BMW was ‘dumped’ on Modbury Walk, before it was later set alight.
Giving evidence in his defence, McDermott claimed he intended to ‘scare Vernard Murray away’, after he claimed that Mr Murray had attacked an acquaintance. He said this fourth individual, referred to in court as ‘Mr X’ drove the BMW to the scene.
Williams had previously accepted stabbing Mr Murray. McDermott claimed Williams gave him a knife and a balaclava which he ‘stupidly’ wore in the moments leading up to the attack. He denied inflicting any injuries upon Mr Murray.
Neither Williams nor Harte gave evidence at the trial. The three will be sentenced on July 10.
