Leeds killer who stabbed young dad to death while under attack is jailed for 14 years
Victim died within seconds from “unsurvivable” machete wound
A young man who lashed out and killed a teenage dad while under attack from an armed gang has been jailed.
Alfie Milburn was found guilty of the manslaughter of 19-year-old Harry Abbott following a trial at Leeds Crown Court in April. He was cleared of murder.
Milburn, who recently turned 20, was at his home in Seacroft in October last year when he was ambushed by the masked machete-wielding gang that included Mr Abbott. It was part of a tit-for-tat rivalry.
Milburn, who was also armed with a long knife or machete, was chased by the gang and lashed out while under attack, fatally stabbing Mr Abbott.
Mr Abbott was able to get to his feet and run, but collapsed just moments later.
Milburn later claimed it was self-defence.
Judge Simon Phillips KC told Milburn: “At no point have you expressed any remorse.
“You ended Mr Abbott’s life and brought grief to his family and friends.”
He deemed him a dangerous offender and handed him an extended sentence of 14 years.
This includes a nine-year term to be served in a young offender institute, with a five-year extended licence period.
Meanwhile, three other men who accompanied Mr Abbott on that fateful day have admitted conspiring to commit grievous bodily harm and possessing offensive weapons or bladed articles.
They are 20-year-old driver Dylan Earp of Cross Green Lane, Cross Green, 19-year-old Jack Rider of Conway Place, Harehills and 24-year-old Tray Plummer of Seaforth Road, Harehills.
During Milburn's trial, it was heard that two targeted attacks had taken place on Mr Abbott's friends in October last year.
Dylan Earp was attacked outside his home in Cross Green by two masked perpetrators wielding a machete on October 2. They demanded he hand over a gold chain before fleeing.
Then on October 7, Tray Plummer was attacked on a street in Gipton by two masked men with machetes riding a motorbike.
Prosecutor Andrew Haslam KC told the jury that Mr Abbott and his friends suspected Milburn had been involved and so sought revenge.
They set off late morning on October 8 in a stolen Ford Focus to find Milburn with an intention of attacking him.
Stopping to fill up with fuel, CCTV footage from the petrol station showed Mr Abbott, Dylan Earp, Tray Plummer and Jack Rider in the car.
They arrived at Milburn’s home on Parkside View, Seacroft, shortly before midday.
Milburn was at his property and the group stepped out of the Focus wearing face masks and carrying machetes and knives.
Only driver Earp stayed in the car.
The fatal attack was not caught on camera.
Moments later it showed them running back to the car, including Mr Abbott, who appeared to fall, then get back to his feet.
Mr Abbott then suddenly collapsed, motionless.
He was then bundled into the car before it was driven off.
Minutes later, they arrived on St Wilfrid’s Crescent, Harehills, and Mr Abbott's body was dragged from the car and onto the pavement.
Captured on CCTV, screams of "get an ambulance" were heard.
The group then got back into the Focus and drove off, leaving Mr Abbott on the pavement.
The Focus was then ditched on nearby Amberton Crescent.
Mr Abbott, who was the father of a baby daughter, was declared dead at 12.30pm.
In a victim impact statement from Mr Abbott’s family, they said his death will “haunt them for the rest of their lives”
He had been stabbed in the back with the blade penetrating ribs and striking a main artery. It caused massive internal bleeding within seconds.
Mr Haslam said: "There was nothing anyone could have done to stem the loss of blood."
A pathologist's report concluded that a long thin knife had been "thrust into his back with severe force".
Following the attack, Milburn was captured on CCTV walking along the street. Audio from the footage caught him saying: "I think I killed him."
Police later went to his home and found a machete outside the front door and a sword on the sofa.
However, Milburn then fled the country before police could arrest him, first travelling to Dublin, then Northern Ireland.
Following an appeal, he was arrested at Belfast International Airport on October 27, almost three weeks after Mr Abbott's death.
He refused to answer police questions during his interview but gave a prepared statement claiming it was self defence, a stance he maintained throughout his trial.
Mitigating during today’s sentencing hearing, Gillian Batts KC said the death of Harry Abbott “must be assisted by the full factual background”, that he was under attack.