Bodmin Murder: A Tragedy That Was Avoidable

JUST days after the first anniversary of a tragic night that changed the lives of a family and rocked a community, the courts have handed down their final verdict.

During a sentencing hearing at Truro Crown Court, Mrs Justice Cutts heard the final summaries from the legal teams who would have become familiar faces during the almost six-week trial, making their final arguments on considerations such as the future of their clients . lie before the judge.

Before her are the sentences to be imposed on Jake Hill, 25, guilty of murder and wounding with intent, alongside 22-year-old Tia Taylor and Chelsea Powell, 23.

Previously, it was up to the prosecution to state their case and provide details of Mr Hill’s previous offences, while his representatives responded by describing his past life to date in an attempt to seek leniency in a situation where there was no clemency was available because of his crimes.

The court heard how Hill had committed previous offenses for a series of crimes before the fateful night, in between attempts at rehabilitation. He had previously spent three years in a young offenders institute for attempting to rob a person outside a bank while in possession of an air pistol, as well as offenses of resisting a police officer, arson, making a false statement for financial gain, sending an offensive message and possessing an offensive weapon while on bail.

His defense painted a picture of a man with a troubled background, who grew up in a chaotic home where both parents were drug users, and the presence of drug dealers and raids by rival gangs were a regular occurrence. They also explained how he had moved to his grandmother, which the court heard was a more stable home and someone he had nothing but love and respect for, alongside a supportive and good-influencing wider family, including aunts. They added how he had reconciled with his mother before her death in 2020, after a period of estrangement.

Part of the prosecution’s final argument involved victim impact statements from the four surviving people who were injured the same night Michael Riddiough-Allen lost his life trying to prevent the massacre, saying that the massacre resulted primarily from Mr. Hill’s choice to commit suicide. carry and use hunting knife. alongside one of his older sister and best friend, Rebecca Dustan.

The court heard how one, Mr Ryan Burger, was lucky to survive the incident, only saved by the quick responses of security staff from the adjacent nightclub and paramedics, before having to undergo a nine-hour operation to remove the bleeding from a large artery. in his leg. The court simply heard that the trial could have been about the murder of two people if the circumstances had been different.

Subsequent victim statements detailed the suffering of those affected, ranging from financial to psychological and physical. However, it was the final victim impact statement that left the rooms full of debris in their throats as Mrs Dustan, who has been at the center of the family’s response to their loss at the establishment of the MIKES Trust for most of the year, described the impact the loss of her brother had. A life in which a beloved son, brother, uncle and friend would be a void in the key moments of family life, especially in the lives of his beloved nieces and nephews.

After the legal teams presented their final summaries to Her Honor, a thirty-minute break for lunch was given while she reflected on the words that had been said.

Upon her return, the final fate of those responsible for the crimes committed in the early hours of April 30 was announced.

Jake Hill received a life sentence, a mandatory sentence for the crime of murder, and will not be eligible for parole for a minimum of 28 years. If he is released, he will then spend the rest of his life on license, which would mean he faces a return to prison for the rest of his life if he offends again.

The judge told those present that she believed Michael Riddiough-Allen was a gentle giant, adored by nieces and that it was clear to her that the family had struggled to understand and come to terms with his loss, adding that no punishment can bring him back. , and his death was life-changing and they always have to live with that.

Before handing down her sentence, she told Mr Riddiough-Allen’s killer that in her opinion he had not shown an ounce of remorse at the time of the first arrest and has not done so since. During the lengthy period in which the evidence was presented, she said, she sensed no remorse on his part.

Mrs Justice Cutts said she believed Hill carried the knife because he liked the image of a ‘hard man’, adding he was completely misguided in that perception. She added that this created the dangerous situation created by Mr Hill’s choice to become involved in a fight he was not part of.

For the crimes of manslaughter and perverting the course of justice to which she pleaded guilty, Miss Taylor was sentenced to two years and four months in prison, with a further eight months to run consecutively, a total of three years of which she will serve half in prison. and half released on parole. The judge noted how Miss Taylor’s absence would impact her children, while acknowledging the remorse she had shown and her attempts at redemption while in prison.

Miss Powell was sentenced to 15 months in prison on a charge of perverting the course of justice, of which the jury found her guilty, of which she must serve half. However, having spent more than half in custody, she was released on license after the trial.

The ‘greatest tragedy’ of the evening, as Her Honor noted, was that it was an event that did not have to happen at all. Different choices made by Hill in leaving the nightclub would have meant that Mr Riddiough-Allen would not have died, and the three perpetrators would not have been behind bars.

Most importantly, if Hill had not brought a knife, the tragic events would not have had to happen.

To use the mantra of the MIKE’s Trust, formed by the family of the man who lost his life trying to stop a situation, the greatest lesson of all is ‘leave the knife in the drawer’. Although their lives will continue, it will be one without Mike, while Miss Taylor, Miss Powell and Mr Hill’s children will equally have to deal with time away from their parents – in the latter’s case, possibly forever. It is an event that has changed the lives of everyone associated with the victims, Mr Riddiough-Allen and the perpetrators.

And all because someone brought a knife to a situation he didn’t need to be in and decided to use it.