Warren Burns: Men who killed man after five-year grudge jailed

Two cousins who killed a man in a "sickening premeditated attack" at his home having held a grudge against him for five years have been jailed.

Warren Burns, 37, was punched, kicked in the head and stamped on during the attack on Heysham Avenue in Fallowfield, Manchester, on 21 May.

Ryan White, 29, was convicted of murder after a trial at Manchester Crown Court and jailed for at least 17 years.

Damian White, 34, was found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for 11 years.

Greater Manchester Police said they received a 999 call after a group of men broke into Mr Burns' house where he was with his partner and baby son.

Officers later found Mr Burns unconscious and badly injured in an upstairs bedroom.

He was taken to Salford Royal Hospital where he died three days later.

The force said during the investigation it became apparent the attack was targeted and premeditated and that Ryan White and Damian White had held a grudge towards Mr Burns for a number of years.

In 2018, Mr Burns had been on a night out with friends when Ryan's brother, Noel White, was killed.

The man accused of murdering Noel White was acquitted following a trial, police said.

The White family felt Mr Burns' witness account had contributed to the man being found not guilty, the force added.

A "verbal altercation" between members of the White family and members of Mr Burns' family at a festival at Platt Fields Park in Fallowfield on 20 May was the "catalyst" for Ryan White and Damian White to go looking for Mr Burns.

CCTV showed two vehicles had been used by the men to travel to and from Heysham Avenue, police said.

The men were arrested and detectives found calls were made between them which showed their planning and participation before and after the attack.

Phone evidence also placed them in the vicinity of Heysham Avenue at the time.

The two vehicles used by the men were also recovered by the police.

The men, both from Manchester, disposed of mobile phones, clothing and footwear and fled to Oldham and Stoke.

Det Insp Louise Edwards said: "Warren had just welcomed his second child and was about to embark on life as a father of two.

"His life was cruelly taken away from him in a senseless act of sickening and unprovoked violence."

She said the two men had gone looking for Mr Burns "to seek what they saw as revenge".

Paying tribute to him after the sentencing, Mr Burns' family said: "Warren was a much-loved son, brother, partner and father.

"He was a gentle giant with the biggest heart and gentle soul.

"He was fun-loving and outgoing, and always stood out as the life and soul of the party.

"Even though Warren has been taken away so cruelly from us he will remain in our hearts forever and will not be forgotten."

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