Tue, 18 Dec 2018
Counsel at No5 Barristers’ Chambers have secured the murder conviction of a brutal teenager over the stabbing of a grandad in a Kingstanding park.
The court heard how Leary Dalton-Byrne repeatedly stabbed Dean Ward earlier this year and later boasted about the killing, telling a friend that he had “done an ‘M’”. The friend recorded him making the confession and sent the footage to others, which was circulated on social media.
Michelle Heeley QC and Simon Hunka led the prosecution in the trial of the 18-year-old, who had denied the charges. He was convicted of murder and possession of a knife.
Dalton-Byrne will be sentenced on February 1 next year after the trial concluded at Birmingham Crown Court. The Judge adjourned sentencing to obtain more details about Dalton-Byrne’s background.
Following the verdict, there had also been clashes between the families of the victim and the defendant.
Mr Ward, 45, had met a friend at Costcutters in College Road, Kingstanding, at 6.30am on June 20 this year. They had then gone into Finchley Park where the defendant approached them along with another youth.
Dalton-Byrne asked Mr Ward for a cigarette and when he said he did not have one, the teenager began stabbing him to his arms and legs. Mr Ward fell to the floor and the teenager continued the attack before being pulled away by his friend. Mr Ward died a week later from ‘catastrophic’ blood loss.
Following the verdict, Michelle Heeley QC said there were victim impact statements indicating what a ‘devastating’ effect the killing had had on the victim’s family.
For more information about the case visit: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/teenager-murdered-man-city-park-15553783
Michelle Heeley is a member of the Crime Group at No5 Barristers’ Chambers as is Simon Hunka.
To view their profiles, visit:
https://www.no5.com/barristers/barrister-details/305-michelle-heeley-qc/
https://www.no5.com/barristers/barrister-details/354-simon-hunka/
