Boy, 16, guilty of murder at drugs house

Police officers in Arundel Close, Hull, after David Hunt was stabbed to death

A teenage boy who "repeatedly stabbed" a man to death in a house used for drug dealing has been found guilty of murder.

David Hunt, 45, was stabbed nine times by the boy, who cannot be named due to his age, on the upstairs landing of the house in Arundel Close, Hull, on 19 June last year.

The defendant had admitted stabbing Mr Hunt, but claimed he acted in self-defence.

Dean Dawkins, 20, of Cherry Nook Road, Huddersfield, whose DNA was found on the knife, was cleared of murder, but convicted of manslaughter. Dawkins and the boy had previously admitted drugs offences.

Hull Crown Court was told that a drugs line known as the Saskia Line operated from the house.

Dealers Charlie Murray and her partner Elon Williams were accused of running the line from their home in Croydon, south London, in return for receiving free heroin.

On the night of the attack, Mr Hunt had gone to the house to buy drugs, the court was told.

However, no one answered his knock at the door, so he gained access to the property by climbing through the bathroom window, prosecutor Jamie Hill KC said.

Mr Hunt suffered fatal injuries within 30 seconds of climbing into the house, the court heard

The jury heard how Mr Hunt was "repeatedly stabbed – nine times – on the upstairs landing" of the house and suffered fatal wounds to his neck, face, stomach, chest and arms.

"He was attacked as he tried to battle his way out of the property," said Mr Hill.

"There were smears of blood down the wall of the staircase as he tried to get out.

"Thirty seconds after entering, he staggered backwards out of the front door, mortally wounded. CCTV shows him stagger and collapse on a grassy area in front of the property."

Dawkins had claimed he took no part in the attack, adding that his DNA was only found on the knife because he had picked it up earlier that day.

The prosecution said he assisted and encouraged it.

Dawkins and the boy had previously admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Murray, 34, of Galpins Road, Thornton Heath, London, was found guilty on two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and of assisting an offender.

Williams, 30, of Rosemead Street, Hull, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Another man, Barry Leiper, 48, of Arundel Close, Hull, previously pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.

Roberta Taylor, of Newtown Court, Hull, was found not guilty of perverting the course of justice and two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Sentencing was adjourned until 17 March.

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