Killers of suspected paedophile face life sentence

Three vigilantes were facing life sentences today for beating to death a suspected paedophile at a bus stop.

Daniel Poole, 21, his uncle Steven Poole, 37, and Richard Greyham, 31, were found guilty by unanimous verdicts last week of murdering Matthew Murray in a village in England's Derbyshire on July 9 last year.

The three neighbours, who all live in Priestley Avenue, Mickley, near Alfreton, “took the law into their own hands” after rumours spread around the village that Mr Murray had sexually assaulted a young girl.

Father-of-three Mr Murray, 39, was attacked at his home in Priestley Avenue before he fled from the gang, who went on to brag to friends about the assault. Almost three hours later, Mr Murray was waiting at a bus stop on the A61 at Stretton, Derbyshire, when he was subjected to the fatal attack.

He was punched, kicked and stamped on with such severe force that the wall of his heart was torn.

He suffered 51 injuries and died when his heart was ruptured as a result of being stamped or jumped on.

The three men then drove off, leaving him at the side of the road, where motorists pulled over to help.

Nottingham Crown Court was told that a young girl had made the unproved assault allegation against Mr Murray to Steven Poole’s then-girlfriend, Michelle Warriner, 24, of Hawthorne Avenue, Mickley. The allegation was never proved as Mr Murray was killed before police could investigate the claims.

Prosecution counsel John Warren QC told the court: “The police were beginning to investigate that allegation and had done so by taking a statement that very day from a woman called Michelle Warriner.

“The investigation never got any further than that. Whether he is guilty or not will never be determined because he was killed that very same day.”

Ms Warriner, who was Steven Poole’s girlfriend at the time, joined in the attack at the house, armed with a crowbar, as Mr Murray was heard shouting and screaming at them to stop, he said.

All four had denied murder but Steven and Daniel Poole, as well as Warriner, had already pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Murray earlier that day.

All four were being sentenced by Mr Justice Gage at Nottingham Crown Court this morning.