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Judge jails death threat killer | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A judge has jailed a murderer who 24 hours earlier had threatened to escape custody and kill him. | A judge has jailed a murderer who 24 hours earlier had threatened to escape custody and kill him. |
Judge Peter Openshaw sentenced Daniel Breaks, 48, of Allerton, Liverpool, to life in prison for the murder of his sister's boyfriend Simon Sutton. | Judge Peter Openshaw sentenced Daniel Breaks, 48, of Allerton, Liverpool, to life in prison for the murder of his sister's boyfriend Simon Sutton. |
Breaks, who had denied murder, made his threat as he was convicted by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday. | Breaks, who had denied murder, made his threat as he was convicted by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday. |
The judge's father, William Openshaw, was stabbed to death in 1981 by a man he sent to borstal 13 years earlier. | The judge's father, William Openshaw, was stabbed to death in 1981 by a man he sent to borstal 13 years earlier. |
Breaks, of Hallville Road, Allerton, killed Mr Sutton with a pool cue at the home he shared with Gwyneth Breaks in Birkenhead, Wirral, in April 2007. | |
Liverpool Crown Court heard he suspected the 40-year-old had informed police about an alleged attempt to blackmail a bank. | |
I will escape prison and I will kill you Daniel Breaks | I will escape prison and I will kill you Daniel Breaks |
Breaks told his sister and her teenage sons he would "blowtorch and kill them" if they called the police or an ambulance. | |
Before dumping the body in an alley, the killer invited his mother and friends to the house to show them the corpse, telling them: "That is what happens to grasses." | |
Breaks, who has more than 360 convictions, then fled to the home of retired probation officer Charles Heaps, 67, in Chester-le-Street, County Durham. | |
Mr Heaps and his wife Joy, 62, had befriended Breaks when he served a 14-year jail term in Durham, but he kidnapped them at knifepoint and forced them to drive him to London. | |
After his arrest Breaks blamed his sister and girlfriend for murdering Mr Sutton, before changing his story to blame two Liverpool criminals he refused to name. | |
He denied murder, kidnap and conspiracy to blackmail. The jury cleared Breaks of the conspiracy charge but found him guilty of murder and kidnap. | |
Judge murder | |
After the verdicts were read out on Monday he accused Mr Justice Openshaw of "suppressing the truth" and said: "I will escape prison and I will kill you." | |
As members of the jury gasped in shock, Mr Justice Openshaw, who is from Lancashire, said to them: "I very much doubt he'll have the chance." | As members of the jury gasped in shock, Mr Justice Openshaw, who is from Lancashire, said to them: "I very much doubt he'll have the chance." |
Mr Justice Openshaw described Breaks' story as "absurd" and told him he would not be eligible for parole for 30 years - when he will be 78. | |
Speaking afterwards, Det Supt Dave Kelly, who led the investigation, said: "I am delighted with the verdict and with the sentence today and delighted for the families who have been severely impacted by the actions of one member." | |
Breaks' threat echoed the case of the judge's father who was stabbed 12 times in the head, neck and back by a man he sentenced for stealing. | Breaks' threat echoed the case of the judge's father who was stabbed 12 times in the head, neck and back by a man he sentenced for stealing. |
John Smith was locked up for 18 months when he was 17 but waited until he was 31 before attacking William Openshaw. | John Smith was locked up for 18 months when he was 17 but waited until he was 31 before attacking William Openshaw. |
He hid in the garage of his home in Broughton, near Preston, Lancashire, before launching the knife attack. | He hid in the garage of his home in Broughton, near Preston, Lancashire, before launching the knife attack. |