Killer of Tyson Fury's cousin loses sentence appeal

Liam O'Pray's lawyers argued his youth and immaturity were not taken into account

A man who murdered boxer Tyson Fury's cousin has lost a Court of Appeal challenge over his life sentence.

Liam O'Pray from Salford was 21 when he stabbed Rico Burton, 31, in the neck with a seven-inch lock knife, after a fight broke out in Altrincham, Greater Manchester - causing a fatally massive blood loss to the father-of-one, in August 2022.

He was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 28 years in prison, after being convicted of murder at Manchester Crown Court in July 2023.

Three judges have dismissed his appeal against the "manifestly excessive" minimum term in a judgement earlier.

Tyson Fury made a plea to stop knife crime after his cousin Rico Burton's death

O'Pray's lawyers had also argued the minimum term should be reduced because his immaturity had not been properly analysed by the sentencing judge.

But Mrs Justice Stacey, sitting with Lord Justice Holgate and Judge Adrienne Lucking KC, said that the sentencing judge "had taken full account of the appellant's lack of maturity".

She said: "A significant reduction for age and immaturity had thus been made, and we do not find the sentence to have been manifestly excessive and the appeal is dismissed."

O'Pray was also found guilty of wounding with intent for slashing and stabbing Harvey Reilly, who was 17 at the time of the attack.