Teen smiles in court as he's jailed for killing man with rock during mass brawl
A teenager smiled and waved at his family in court as he was jailed for murdering a man with a rock during a mass brawl.
Henry Houghton, 19, attacked Matthew Daulby with a rock, which he stuffed into a sports sock and used in a mass brawl in Ormskirk, Lancashire, on July 29, 2023. The victim and his friends travelled to the area after a member of their group said he had been punched while on his own and on crutches.
Houghton and another male were together throughout the evening and spent time drinking at pubs around the town. Shortly before midnight on July 28, the pair went to an alleyway off Railway Road, where Houghton admitted he took ketamine and supplied cocaine to another man.
Matthew Daulby was fatally stabbed during an altercation in Ormskirk, Lancashire, on July 29 last year (Lancs Live/MEN Media)
The victim tragically died in hospital (Lancashire Police / SWNS)They went to a nearby cashpoint and returned to the alley. When the group, which had come from Maghull, arrived in Railway Road, Houghton joined in the fighting. He swung his makeshift weapon at Matthew, hitting him hard on the front of his head, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Matthew suffered a serious injury which damaged his skull and frontal lobe - although the injury itself was not fatal. The 19-year-old also suffered a knife wound to his chest and collapsed in Moorgate, in the aftermath of the attack.
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At 1.15am, Matthew was pronounced dead at Aintree University Hospital. Two men were charged with his murder, however the jury at Preston Crown Court acquitted the other defendant, who said he went to help after violence broke out.
Houghton, of Barrison Green, Scarisbrick, claimed he was not part of a planned attack, however the jury rejected his account of what happened in the moments before Matthew was killed. Throughout the trial he wore a smart suit, however when the jury returned their verdict, he removed his tie and threw it in the dock.
Police on Railway Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire, after the stabbing (Lancs Live/MEN Media)He appeared for sentence wearing a tracksuit. Throughout the hearing he sat with his head in his hands, or looked straight ahead. He listened as Matthew's family set out the impact of his death upon them.
After learning of his sentence of life, with a minimum of 20 years, Houghton smiled and waved at his family, who were in the public gallery, while he was led away to begin his sentence. DCI Andy Fallows, of our Force Major Investigation Team, said: "As a result of his senseless and violent actions, Henry Houghton played a significant role in Matthew losing his life.
"Those actions have resulted in Matthew and his loved ones being robbed of the opportunity to make memories together. I hope this conviction and life sentence gives Matthew's family some comfort, knowing that Houghton has been held accountable for his actions."
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