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Facebook killer jailed for life | Facebook killer jailed for life |
(10 minutes later) | |
A teenager who posted a message on Facebook saying he felt like killing someone, hours before stabbing a man to death, has been jailed for life. | A teenager who posted a message on Facebook saying he felt like killing someone, hours before stabbing a man to death, has been jailed for life. |
Leon Ramsden, 19, of Turnstone Road, Bolton, stabbed father-of-three Paul Gilligan, 31, while drinking in the Pepper Alley bar in Bolton last July. | Leon Ramsden, 19, of Turnstone Road, Bolton, stabbed father-of-three Paul Gilligan, 31, while drinking in the Pepper Alley bar in Bolton last July. |
Mr Gilligan, of Salford, suffered stab wounds to his shoulder and chest. | Mr Gilligan, of Salford, suffered stab wounds to his shoulder and chest. |
Mr Justice Teare, sentencing Ramsden to a minimum of 17 years, said the killing was "senseless and unprovoked". | Mr Justice Teare, sentencing Ramsden to a minimum of 17 years, said the killing was "senseless and unprovoked". |
During his trial, Manchester Crown Court heard that earlier that evening Ramsden wrote on Facebook he felt "like killin some1". | During his trial, Manchester Crown Court heard that earlier that evening Ramsden wrote on Facebook he felt "like killin some1". |
'Senseless murder' | 'Senseless murder' |
The court heard he had been on a three-day alcohol and cocaine-fuelled binge and had not slept for 36 hours prior to stabbing Mr Gilligan. | The court heard he had been on a three-day alcohol and cocaine-fuelled binge and had not slept for 36 hours prior to stabbing Mr Gilligan. |
The jury took just over six hours to find Ramsden guilty of murder on Wednesday following a two week trial. | The jury took just over six hours to find Ramsden guilty of murder on Wednesday following a two week trial. |
Ramsden had been on a three-day drink and drugs binge before the killing. (Pic from GMP) | Ramsden had been on a three-day drink and drugs binge before the killing. (Pic from GMP) |
On Thursday, Judge Teare told him: "This was a senseless and unprovoked murder which has devastated Paul Gilligan's family." | On Thursday, Judge Teare told him: "This was a senseless and unprovoked murder which has devastated Paul Gilligan's family." |
The prosecution said the pair had been seen play fighting in the bar but Ramsden left, returning seconds later to stab the victim. | The prosecution said the pair had been seen play fighting in the bar but Ramsden left, returning seconds later to stab the victim. |
Customers in the bar called the attack "unexpected" and "brutal" but initially they did not realise Ramdsen had knifed Mr Gilligan because he concealed the knife in his fist. | Customers in the bar called the attack "unexpected" and "brutal" but initially they did not realise Ramdsen had knifed Mr Gilligan because he concealed the knife in his fist. |
He was arrested later that evening when a doorman at a nearby nightclub found a knife sheath on him and alerted the police. | He was arrested later that evening when a doorman at a nearby nightclub found a knife sheath on him and alerted the police. |
The Facebook entry was deleted, but was recovered from a laptop used by a witness to access the site after hearing about the stabbing. | The Facebook entry was deleted, but was recovered from a laptop used by a witness to access the site after hearing about the stabbing. |
Paul didn't deserve this, nor would he have anticipated such brutality Mr Gilligan's family | |
The judge added: "You could simply have left the area of the club but you chose to return and stab Paul Gilligan. | The judge added: "You could simply have left the area of the club but you chose to return and stab Paul Gilligan. |
"Nothing Paul Gilligan did could justify or excuse your actions. I therefore do not regard provocation as a mitigating factor." | "Nothing Paul Gilligan did could justify or excuse your actions. I therefore do not regard provocation as a mitigating factor." |
Following the sentencing, Greater Manchester Police released a picture of Ramsden snorting cocaine on the day before he killed Mr Gilligan. | |
In a statement read out by Det Insp Mark Roters outside court, Mr Gilligan's partner said the family would never get over his death. | |
"This youth has never shown remorse and he felt he was untouchable," the statement read. | |
"He knew he had killed a man, one loved by many, in a heartless, shocking, cowardly stabbing. | |
"Paul didn't deserve this, nor would he have anticipated such brutality. He is greatly missed and was such a happy, social, family man." |
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