Two men have been convicted of the brutal murder of 21-year-old Owen Fairclough, whose body was found in a stream in Breaston, Derbyshire, with a slashed throat and multiple stab wounds. The jury at Derby Crown Court found David Oswald, 31, of Birmingham, and another man, identified as Man A, guilty of murder after eight days of deliberations.
A third defendant, Man B, awaits a verdict, while a fourth accomplice, Jack Towell, 22, of Nottingham, admitted guilt mid-trial.
The Crime
Prosecutors revealed that the defendants had lured Mr. Fairclough to a secluded wooded area near the Navigation Inn on June 21, 2023. They believed he was planning to expose their drug-dealing activities to the police.
Prosecutor Peter Joyce KC stated:
“The group conspired to kill Owen in the preceding days, and on the night of June 21, three of them—Towell, Oswald, and Man A—carried out their plan.”
Towell, a close friend of Mr. Fairclough, used their friendship to lure him to the location where Oswald and Man A were lying in wait. After the attack, Mr Fairclough’s body was discovered two days later by a group of teenagers near a stream.
Motive and Evidence
The prosecution described the motive as stemming from a belief that Mr Fairclough intended to report the group’s criminal activities to the police. Text messages recovered during the investigation showed the defendants discussing the murder in coded language, referring to it as a “holiday.
The jury was taken to the crime scene during the trial, which painted a chilling picture of the calculated and premeditated nature of the killing.
Sentencing
The convicted men face life imprisonment, with Judge Gregory Dickinson KC stating:
“The sentence for murder is life, but I must set a minimum term they must serve before being eligible for parole.
Community Impact
Detectives described the crime as a devastating blow to the victim’s family and the local community. Detective Chief Inspector Susie Cairns, leading the investigation, said:
“This was a calculated and cold-blooded murder. The defendants conspired to betray and murder Owen, who thought he was among friends. Justice has been served, and our thoughts remain with Owen’s loved ones.”
Awaiting Sentencing
Towell, Oswald, and Man A will be sentenced on a date yet to be confirmed. Meanwhile, the jury continues to deliberate on the involvement of Man B.
