Dad battered to death in his home with his 10 week-old son present, murder trial jury told
14.11.2023 - 19:47
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A 'vulnerable' and 'outnumbered' dad was kicked, stamped and punched to death by three men in his home while his partner and their 10 week-old newborn son were present, a murder trial jury was told.
Brandon White, Ryan White and Damian White - all related - have gone on trial at Manchester Crown Court accused of the murder in May this year of father-of-two Warren Burns, 37.
It's alleged they attacked Mr Burns at his home on Heysham Avenue in Withington, Manchester, on May 21. He died three days later in hospital. The jury was told 'three men' knocked at the door 'uninvited' then 'went upstairs to find him'.
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Opening the case to the jury on Tuesday, Nicholas Lumley KC said Mr Burns' partner, Lucille Lees, heard the men 'calling for Warren' - then heard 'thuds'. "Terrified for the safety of her baby, she ran from the house into the back garden and called the police," said the prosecutor. "The thuds she could hear were the sound of Warren Burns being killed."
A neighbour, the court heard, then went to the house and saw the front door open.
"He went upstairs and found a badly injured Mr Burns," Mr Lumley said. "The police had already been called. Warren Burns was very, very, very badly injured in his bedroom when the emergency services attended. Warren Burns had been fatally assaulted in that bedroom. His life could not be saved.
"One or more people had been standing on the bed. There was no evidence to suggest that Warren Burns had been upright during the assault on him."
Mr Lumley