Man who stabbed victim in the heart jailed for life

Thursday, 20 July 2017 16:00

Matthew McKenzie’s killer - who plunged a knife into his chest before leaving him to die - has been jailed for life.

James Samuel Hurst, 29, from Oldham, was sentenced yesterday, 19 July, after being found guilty of murder and possession of a bladed article at Manchester Crown Court. He will serve a minimum of 26 years.

Hurst had been with McKenzie during Thursday 12 January 2017 at his home in Heywood where the pair spent the day together.

They then visited friends on Barley Hall Street in Heywood where they stayed until later that night.

At about 8pm they left the house and a short time later Hurst stabbed Matthew in the chest. A post-mortem revealed Matthew had also suffered cuts to his arm and hands which are believed to be defence wounds.

Hurst left Matthew lying on the floor in an alleyway near to the back of Promenade Street in Heywood.

Just before 11.25pm that same night a passer-by discovered Matthew’s body and immediately called police.

In the meantime, Hurst had returned to the house on Barley Hall Street before getting a taxi back to an address in Oldham.

A murder investigation was launched and Hurst subsequently handed himself in two days later at Bury police station.

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