Man convicted of murder after 18 months on the run

Thomas Dures handed himself in to a police station in Greece

A man who fatally stabbed a teenager then went on the run for 18 months has been convicted of his murder.

Matthew Daulby, 19, from Liverpool, was knifed in the chest after two groups clashed outside a bar in Ormskirk, Lancashire, on 29 July, 2023.

Thomas Dures, 21, who finally handed himself in to police in Greece, was also found guilty of wounding with intent following a trial at Preston Crown Court and is due to be sentenced on Monday.

It comes after another man, Henry Houghton, of Scarisbrick, was jailed last year for a minimum of 20 years for his role in Mr Daulby's murder.

Matthew Daulby died in hospital shortly after the attack

Mr Daulby was found after police were called to Railway Road amid reports of a fight shortly after midnight, Lancashire Police said.

He was found a short distance away with serious stab injuries and died later in hospital.

A post mortem established the cause of Mr Daulby's death was a single stab wound to the chest but he had also sustained other injuries.

Prior to the fight, CCTV footage played to the jury showed Dures and Houghton lurking in an alleyway.

Dures is then seen striding towards the group Mr Daulby was with, brandishing a knife.

Dures opened up the blade as he charged towards the group, closely followed by Houghton, who was swinging a makeshift weapon comprising of a tied-up sock containing a rock.

Houghton struck Mr Daulby with the weapon with such force that it caused damage to his brain and likely disorientated him, Lancashire Police said.

It was when he was in this confused state that Dures fatally stabbed Mr Daulby to the chest, the force said.

Henry Houghton was sentenced to a minimum of 20 years for his role in Matthew Daulby's murder

Dures also stabbed two other men during the altercation, before fleeing the scene when hearing the sirens of an approaching police car.

CCTV footage showed Dures then did a loop of Ormskirk town centre, during which time he left his jacket on a park bench in Triangle Park.

Police said Dures then dumped the knife in a narrow passageway near Ormskirk Parish Church.

The jacket was later found by a dog walker and the knife was found by an estate agent. Both items were handed in to the police.

Dures, of no fixed address but formerly of Whalley Drive, Aughton, sent voice notes to his friends before leaving the area in a taxi.

He then went on the run for 18 months before handing himself in at a police station in Greece.

Det Ch Insp Andy Fallows said: "After two long years, the man responsible for fatally stabbing Matthew Daulby has finally been brought to justice.

"This has been two years of pain and frustration in which the Daulbys have had so many unanswered questions.

"They have had to figure out a way to try and grieve, knowing the man responsible to taking their son's life before it had really started was actively evading justice, and celebrating his 21st birthday in the sun.

"Something Matthew will never be able to do."