Oldham man who murdered dad on walk home from pub jailed

Lee Burns, of Worsley Street, was jailed for life with a minimum of 20 years and 164 days at Manchester Crown Court today (May 22).

It came after he was found guilty of killing Vincent McDonagh as they walked home from a night out at the Manor Inn, Glodwick, on November 9 last year.

Delivering the 38-year-old’s sentence, Judge Alan Conrad KC said following a trial the jury had convicted Burns of "the brutal murder of Vincent McDonagh".

He added: “You took offence on the walk home over something concerning your mobile phone. Vincent had done nothing to warrant your behaviour towards him."

He explained how Mr McDonagh provided Burns with £20 and drinks in his apartment before the night.

Lee Burns will serve life in prison with a minimum of 20 years and 164 days (Image: GMP)

He continued: "Vincent simply wanted you to leave him alone, it could not have been plainer.

"You left him dead or close to dying on the street and went home without a thought for him. 

"He didn't want trouble with you on the night."

The judge added: "You are a devious and manipulative man who stared in the case of overwhelming evidence to state a bogus defence."

He went on to state that Burns showed "no remorse at all in these proceedings" and that it "was clear to me" that Mr McDonagh was kind-natured.

Judge Conrad added the father-of-one will never see his son grow up and that his son will never see his father again.

Vincent McDonagh with his fiance, Demi, and their son (Image: GMP)

Almost all the night was captured on CCTV, from the moment the pair left their flats where they lived together in shared accommodation, to entering the pub and the walk-up Abbey Hills Road where the fatal attack occurred – which resulted in Burns stamping on the 45-year-old’s head.

Earlier on in the trial, which began on May 8, during a cross-examination Burns denied that he intended to hurt or kill Mr McDonagh – despite punching him twice and stamping on his head twice.

Giving evidence of Mr McDonagh’s injuries, consultant pathologist Dr Jamie Robinson said: “The first striking finding really was on the left side of the face – this was an area extending from the left eyebrow to the left temple.

“There was notable patterning within this bruise.”

He added: “In this case, given the circumstances and CCTV footage, my first impression was that this could represent a pattern of the footwear make.”

The sentencing was due to go ahead on Monday (May 20) but was adjourned after Burns rendered himself ‘unfit’ to attend after defending barrister Richard Littler KC confirmed he had taken “unknown pills”.