'˜Dangerous' Christmas Day killer jailed for life
Wayne Muirhead, of Batemoor Road, Batemoor was told by a judge at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday that he must serve at least ten years behind bars before he can apply for parole.
Mr Justice Timothy King told 41-year-old Muirhead: “I have no doubt you are dangerous.”
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Hide AdHis victim, Stephen Starkey, a retired caretaker aged 61, was injured after Muirhead barged his way into his home in Reney Crescent looking for cash on Christmas Day 2014.
Muirhead punched him in the face before knocking him to the floor and breaking his collar bone.
Due to his injuries, Mr Starkey was taken to hospital where he was given paracetamol for pain relief. But suffering from alcoholism and under-nourishment, he reacted badly and died on December 30 from acute liver failure.
In a previous incident on November 7, 2014, Muirhead had stolen £280 from Mr Starkey.
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Hide AdAfter a trial, Muirhead was convicted of manslaughter and of robbing Mr Starkey of £1,500 cash, a Playstation and a mobile phone. He was also convicted for the November 7 robbery.
Muirhead was sentenced to 12 years for the earlier robbery and 16 years for the second one, to run concurrently to his life sentence. Mr Starkey’s daughter Kealie Starkey paid tribute to her father and said to Muirhead in a statement: “No amount of money, therapy, doctors or time will heal this wound you have inflicted on so many people.”
Speaking after the sentencing, senior investigating officer detective inspector Richard Partridge said: “Muirhead preyed on a quiet, calm man who kept to himself. Muirhead has shown no remorse for his actions and the fact he attacked Mr Starkey on Christmas Day is appalling, something I simply can’t understand.
“The significant sentence handed to him at court reflects the gravity of his despicable crimes.
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Hide Ad“This crime shocked the local community and devastated Mr Starkey’s family, so I hope what happened at court yesterday offers them some small reassurance that this wicked man is behind bars for a long time, where he can harm nobody else.”