Murderer's death in prison being investigated

Wayne Burke was jailed for life in 2021 for the murder of Reece Cox

One of five people convicted of murdering a man who tried to step in as "peacemaker" during an attack has been found dead in prison.

Wayne Burke, along with four others, was jailed for life for the murder of Reece Cox on 15 August 2020 - with a sixth man jailed for 12 years for manslaughter.

A spokesperson for the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman said they were conducting an investigation into Burke's death.

He died at HMP Dovegate on 29 July, they confirmed, and a report will be made public once the inquest concludes.

"The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is conducting an independent investigation into the death of Wayne Burke at HMP Dovegate on 29 July 2025," the spokesperson said.

"Ombudsman Adrian Usher's final report into Mr Burke's death will be made public once the inquest concludes."

Burke was part of the group in Sedgley, Dudley, who were spotted by Mr Cox, 24, attacking a man, on the night of 15 August 2020.

But when the father-of-one stepped in to try to defuse the situation, the group turned their attention to him, and he was beaten to death.

Five men convicted of murder - Shane Jones, Shaquel Halliday, Wayne Burke, Sebastian Jones and Adam Ashwin - were jailed for life while Ryan Nickin, who was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter was given a 12 year prison term.

Burke had been told by the judge that he would serve a minimum term of 18 years in jail for the crime.