Jack Woodley: Ten youths who killed 18-year-old lose appeals

Jack Woodley was murdered by 10 youths in Houghton-le-Spring

Ten youths who killed an 18-year-old man in a group attack have lost their murder appeals.

The boys, aged between 14 and 18 at the time of Jack Woodley's October 2021 killing, had claimed the judge at their murder trial "failed" to be fair.

Mr Woodley suffered multiple injuries, including spinal fractures, but was killed by a single stab wound during an 80-second attack in Houghton-le-Spring.

Appeal judges said they were "satisfied that all of the convictions are safe".

One of the youths, who was aged 15 at the time, admitted stabbing Mr Woodley in the back with a 25cm (9in)-long "Rambo-style" knife, but claimed it was an accident.

Jack Woodley suffered a fatal wound from a "Rambo-style" knife

The other youths were also convicted of murder at Newcastle Crown Court after jurors heard they were involved in the pile-on to various extents.

All 10, now aged between 16 and 19, were sentenced to life, with minimum terms of between eight and 17 years.

The youths could not be identified but reporting restrictions were lifted on three of them in July after they turned 18, namely Grant Wheatley, Clayton Owen, both 19, and Sonny Smith, 18.

As part of the appeal judgement, restrictions have now been lifted against a further four - Joe Lathan, Leighton Mayo, Blaine Sewell and Calum Maddison, who delivered the fatal knife wound.

Restrictions remain in place to prevent the identification of three 16-year-olds.

Restrictions preventing the naming of Sonny Smith (left), Clayton Owen (centre) and Grant Wheatley were lifted in July

Defence lawyers argued a break in the 11-week-long trial had an unfair impact on the youths and, in his summing up, that His Honour Judge Rodney Jameson KC "crossed the boundary" from being an impartial and "neutral umpire" into offering an opinion that damaged jurors' views of the defendants.

However, the appeal judges said: "Viewing the factual summing up as a whole, and not cherry-picking a word here or a phrase there, we are unable to accept that it was flawed in the ways which the appellants suggest.

"On the contrary, it was, in our view, a thorough and fair rehearsal of the evidence and issues, and was sufficient to overcome any difficulties which may have been caused by the two-week interruption of proceedings."

Blaine Sewell was among the gang attacking Jack Woodley as Calum Maddison (right) knifed him

Jack's mother, Zoe McGill, welcomed the judgement as "justice, finally".

"It's been a long two years, an emotional two years.

"It was clear as day every one of those children deserved the sentences they were given. Yes, one stabbed him, but 10 made a choice to get involved.

"When Jack lay dying they were still kicking and punching him. When they realised the seriousness of it they all ran away and left Jack to die."

'Prevented from escaping'

At the trial, prosecutors said the group had gone to the Houghton Feast on 16 October looking to fight someone and attacked Mr Woodley as he walked towards the town centre.

He was punched, kicked and stamped upon - with prosecutor Mark McKone KC saying the gang "prevented him from escaping and other people from helping him".

Witnesses described the scene as like animals attacking a piece of meat, with one telling the jury it appeared to be a deliberate attempt to kill.

Mr Woodley collapsed in an alley next to the Britannia Inn and died the following day in hospital from a 7cm (2.8in)-deep knife wound that passed between his ribs and into his lung.

Joe Lathan (left) and Leighton Mayo are now able to be named by media

In a statement reacting to the appeal judgement, the families of nine of the 10 convicted youths said: "When our children were convicted of joint enterprise murder over a year ago, we were absolutely horrified.

"None of our children carried a knife, let alone used a knife, and yet they were convicted of the murder of Jack Woodley.

"If any of our children committed a crime that night, if it can be proven to be violent disorder or affray, then we are quite happy for them to be convicted of that offence.

"We will never stop fighting because our children did not murder anyone."