Killer jailed for homeless man's stamping murder

A killer who was caught on CCTV walking through a puddle to clean his bloodstained shoes after chasing and "ferociously" attacking a homeless man in a public park has been jailed.

Joshua Carroll, 30, was found guilty of murdering Headley "Barry" Thomas, 51, after stamping on his head in a park in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, on 12 September 2022.

Mr Thomas, who had been living in a tent in the grassy area known as Penn Park, suffered severe head injuries and died in hospital almost a month later.

Carroll, of no fixed address, was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 17 years and 28 days.

Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard Carroll had been detained under the Mental Health Act at North Manchester General Hospital on 11 September 2022 when he walked out without permission and without taking his medication.

He met up with a friend and spent the night drinking and taking drugs.

The next morning, Carroll was seen on CCTV footage chasing Mr Thomas, who was riding a bike through the street.

Mr Thomas was found unresponsive in Penn Park at about 14:30 BST by a passer-by.

Carroll was arrested after being caught on CCTV at about 13:00 that day riding Mr Thomas' bike and stopping to intentionally walk through a puddle.

Judge Maurice Green said this was "undoubtedly to clean Barry Thomas's blood" from his shoes.

The judge said Carroll had murdered Mr Thomas by "kicking or stamping on his head while he was on the ground".

He said he had attacked Mr Thomas "with such ferocity that most parts of his brain were injured" and he had used force comparable to "running and kicking a football".

The judge said Carrol had chosen not to take his medication and instead took alcohol and drugs leading to Mr Thomas' "senseless death".

The court heard Carroll had chased or attacked Mr Thomas on two previous occasions.

In a victim impact statement, read out to the court by prosecutor David Lees, Mr Thomas' sister Nicola Jones described her brother as "funny, brave and talented in more ways than one".

She said he had "a big heart" and had spent 10 years caring for his father - whose death had caused him to "lose his way" and spiral into drug addiction.

"I was always the protector of Barry. I never knew what I could do to help him," she said.

A statement from Mr Thomas' son, who was 12 at the time of his father's death, said: "I still can't process that my dad won't be able to take me out again... we will never be able to do anything together ever again."

Richard Littler KC, acting for Carroll, told the court his client was supported by his "loving" family, and that his mum had previously written to the court with concerns about her son's mental health.

"They hope that he engages [while he is in prison] and they hope that he complies with those trying to help him," he said.

Det Insp Matthew Hamer from Greater Manchester Police said: "Today's sentencing demonstrates our unwavering commitment to pursuing justice for all members of our community, regardless of their circumstances or how much time has passed since the crime."

He added: "This case had its challenges, but we remained determined throughout with Barry at the forefront of our minds."

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