Bill Baker KC Secures Whole Life Order In Released Prisoner Murder Case
A convicted murderer, who killed for a second time, just months after being released from prison, has been sentenced to a whole life order.
Direece Roche was just 16 when he stabbed 23-year-old Adam Steele to death in 2011 after a row in the street. He was handed a life sentence and ordered to serve at least 12 years. But in June 2024 – just nine months after being released – Roche went on to murder his second victim, his great uncle.
Bill Baker KC prosecuted the trial which heard evidence of Roche climbing through a window at Fintan McDwyer’s home in Fallowfield, before stabbing the 64-year-old 77 times to the face, head and body during a ferocious assault. Roche claimed that Mr McDwyer had sexually abused him as a child. But, following skillful cross examination by Mr Baker KC, the jury rejected the defendant’s case and he was found guilty of murder.
Sentencing him to a whole life order at Manchester Crown Court Mr Justice Bright described Mr McDwyer as an ‘”entirely innocent person”. saying the murder was “premeditated with significant planning”. He told Roche: “My clear impression is that you have no remorse or regret of any kind.”
Roche’s whole life order means he will never be eligible for parole. He is now among the less than 100 prisoners, among a prison population of about 80,000, serving the rare punishment. Others serving such sentences include baby killer Lucy Letby, Mark ‘The Iceman’ Fellows and former police officer Wayne Couzens.
For more information on the case please see:
Manchester killer who stabbed man 77 times ‘will die in prison’ – BBC News
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