Good evening, these are the latest ECHO headlines on Tuesday (March 29).
Man whose DNA was found at scene of 'public execution' cleared of murder
A man whose DNA was found on a bullet casing left at the scene of a "public execution" was today cleared of murder.
Patrick Boyle, 26, was shot dead in Huyton just before 6pm on Thursday, July 1 last year, when prosecutors say he was "shown no mercy". It was alleged Rueben Murphy, 26, was the shooter on an electric bike and that he carried out the killing with the help of Ben Doyle, 24.
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A third man, 20-year-old Thomas Walker, was also accused by prosecutors of being "complicit in the murder". Li verpool Crown Court heard his DNA was discovered on a bullet cartridge found in Newway, a cul-de-sac off Lordens Road, where Mr Boyle was gunned down.
But a jury was today directed to return formal "not guilty" verdicts against Walker on charges of murder, possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, and possessing ammunition with intent to endanger life. That was after Walker admitted a charge of possessing ammunition without a firearms certificate.
Ian Unsworth, QC, told the court the Crown wished to add that charge, count four, to the indictment, in relation to Walker alone. That was approved by High Court judge Mr Justice Stephen Morris.
Walker, of no fixed address but formerly of Clubmoor, pleaded guilty to the charge. He admitted that "on a day or days unknown, between January 1, 2021 and July 1, 2021" he was in possession of ammunition "namely a quantity of 9mm parabellum calibre cartridges".
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Man threatened to shoot police in standoff next to Alder Hey hospital
A drunk man smashed up betting shops before threatening to shoot police officers across the road from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
Richard Higginson was tasered by police after a stand off outside Eaton Road police station, close to the hospital, earlier this year. He repeatedly told officers he might shoot someone, despite having no gun, shortly after smashing TV screens and betting machines in Betfred and William Hill shops nearby.
Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday that Higginson, of Widnes, caused more than £20,000 of damage during his rampage across Knotty Ash. Having struggled with gambling in the past, he had managed to control his addiction but then relapsed and lost more than a thousand pounds at a bookmakers.
This, coupled with the fallout of the end of a recent relationship, saw him start drinking heavily on the morning of February 18. Derek Jones, prosecuting, said Higginson then went to the Betfred on Dovecot Avenue shortly before 3pm.
Mr Jones said: “The defendant came into the store, where the manager recognised him as a customer. “He then said ‘it’s nothing personal but I’m going to smash the machines up’.
“He was carrying a holdall bag and then pulled out of the bag a tyre iron. “He then proceeded to smash up the betting machines inside the store, causing significant damage.”
The manager of the shop shouted at him to leave, at which point Higginson hit the protective screen separating the two and ran out the shop towards a nearby William Hill. There, he chatted briefly to the worker behind the till before telling her to “go into the back and lock yourself in” before using the tyre iron to smash eight TV screens and four gambling machines.
The total damage caused to the shop was more than £12,000. Higginson then walked to another Betfred on Prescot Road and carried out a third attack, this time causing a further £5,000 in damage.
He finally ended up outside Eaton Road police station, a short walk away, and began to break the ground floor windows while waiting for officers to come out. Mr Jones said: “He shouted ‘stay there, stay there, I’ve got a gun, I will shoot you’.
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Boy, 7, creates handwritten warning sign after he's 'attacked' by a swan
A seven-year-old boy has issued an adorable warning after a swan 'attack'.
Kirsty Farrell was walking along Sankey Canal in St Helens with her family, including her nephew Freddie Mitchell, when a large swan approached her daughter Dolly. The pair made a narrow escape as the swan took a bite at seven-year-old Freddie's bike.
Freddie had to go and pick up his bike which had been left nearby to the swan, the swan then rushed towards the seven-year-old and took a bite at Freddie, catching his bike. The incident left the seven-year-old slightly shaken up, so he has taken it upon himself to warn others to be careful around the canal, and to keep a safe distance from the swans.
Freddie then designed a warning poster, and set off along the canal, warning others to take care around the swans.
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