Ten teenage boys have been found guilty of murdering an 18-year-old who was walking home from a funfair on the same day he had picked up keys for a new flat.
Jack Woodley was punched, kicked, stamped on and fatally stabbed by the boys, none of whom he knew.
All had denied murder. On Wednesday, after a 78-day trial at Newcastle crown court, a jury found all of the boys, who cannot be identified, guilty.
Woodley’s mother, Zoey McGill, said that as well her son securing his own accommodation, he was about to start a new job at Amazon.
“We were all very proud of Jack and this should have been a very exciting time in his life,” she said.
“The devastation of losing Jack is immense and far-reaching. The trauma of reliving this whole incident over a long trial has had a devastating effect on us all. We cannot see a way of recovering from this. We feel imprisoned by our grief and trauma.
“No parent, loved one or friend should suffer someone going to a fair and losing them forever. We will never be able to share treasured family moments with our ‘cheeky chappy blue-eyed boy’ ever again.”
In October last year, Woodley and his girlfriend had been at the Houghton Feast, an annual festival held in Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear.
The 10 defendants, then aged between 14 and 17, were also there and were looking for trouble, the jury heard.
After the fair, the gang “surrounded and isolated” Woodley, covering their heads as they prepared to attack him, prosecutor Mark McKone QC said.
The group, he said, “not only attacked him but prevented him from escaping and other people from helping him”.
There had been an incident in which a girl was hit and Woodley asked one boy if he knew why, the jury heard.
One defendant asked Woodley “if he was starting … this seems to be one of the trivial reasons for the group attack”.
All the defendants had also been charged with an alternative count of manslaughter. One of the teenagers had pleaded guilty to manslaughter, admitting that he stabbed Woodley but denying that he intended to kill him.
Det Ch Insp Joanne Brooks, the senior investigating officer on the case, said dozens of lives had been destroyed by the events of 16 October 2021.
“I want to send an unequivocal message to anyone who chooses to carry a weapon of any kind or believes that violence is acceptable – the consequences can be devastating.
“Look at the pain this incident has caused – not only could you take away someone else’s future and destroy the lives of their loved ones, but also your own and those of your family and friends.”
She also commended the bravery of numerous young people who witnessed events and came forward to give evidence.
The victim’s father, John Woodley, said his heart had been broken into a million pieces.
“My son went to a fair with his girlfriend to enjoy a night out and he didn’t come back. The pain and fear he must have endured that night is unthinkable.
“Jack had his whole life ahead of him, he was just 18 years old. Those who attacked our Jack get to see their families and have a future, Jack does not.
“We visit Jack at his grave and wonder how his life would have been if he was still here.”
The 10 defendants were remanded in custody until sentencing in August.
