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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Andrew Bardsley & Amy Walker

Man GUILTY of murdering rival while woman at centre of love triangle watched on - before she helped killer cover his tracks

A man has been found guilty of murder after a dad who became embroiled in a bitter love triangle was brutally stabbed to death in the street.

William Doleman, 27, faces a life sentence after being convicted of murdering 39-year-old Alan Murphy in Moston.

Mr Murphy's then girlfriend Lisa Hough, 43, also faces a potential jail sentence after being found guilty of assisting an offender.

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She tried to help Doleman 'cover his tracks' following the killing.

Ademola Efunnuga, 26, was also accused of murder and the alternate offence of manslaughter, but was found not guilty of both offences by a jury.

Hough had previously been in a relationship with Doleman but was with Mr Murphy at the time of his death.

She watched on as Doleman stabbed Mr Murphy in a 'ferocious' attack.

Mr Murphy was able to stagger back to his home but died hours later following the shocking incident at about 4.30am on February 18.

Police at the scene on Whitstable Road in Moston (ABNM Photography)

He and Doleman had agreed to meet up for a fight after the pair exchanged 'threats' in the early hours.

Doleman called his friend Mr Efunnuga, who was in the city centre, who then got a taxi to Moston.

They joined forces and went to meet Mr Murphy, the court previously heard.

The three men, who jurors heard all had weapons, crossed paths near Mr Murphy's home on Whitstable Road.

Doleman admitted being armed, claiming he had scissors.

He told jurors that he ‘panicked and lashed out around three or four times’.

Mr Efunnuga denied having a knife and said he was acting as a peacemaker, to split the pair up.

Mr Murphy suffered several stab wounds, with one proving fatal.

Manchester Crown Court heard that earlier that night, Mr Murphy had seen Hough with Doleman's dog.

The discovery was 'not well received' by Mr Murphy, who believed that she had met up with her ex.

"It appears to have forced him to the conclusion that his relationship with Lisa Hough was effectively over," Mr Storrie said.

Prosecutors claimed that Doleman and Mr Efunnuga sought to 'overwhelm' Mr Murphy and inflict 'at the very least very serious injury'.

"Fuelled by that intention, the defendants carried out what you may think was an unsparing and ferocious attack upon him," prosecutor Tim Storrie QC said.

Giving evidence, Doleman said : "I could see Alan in possession of something, but I wasn’t sure what it was.

“I feared an attack, but I thought he would hesitate if he saw what I had.

“I didn’t think he would strike me with what he had in his hands."

Mr Efunnuga swore on his daughter's life that he didn't stab Mr Murphy, and blamed Doleman.

"I know for a fact I didn't stab Mr Murphy, I know I didn't," he told jurors.

"Will (Mr Doleman) stabbed this man by himself, no one stabbed this man but for Will."

After the attack, Doleman booked a taxi to Newton Heath under a false name. Mr Efunnuga went back to the city centre and disposed of blood stained clothes, the court heard.

Mr Efunnuga was given a fresh pair of trousers by Hough.

Police at the scene in Moston (Vincent Cole)

She wiped blood from the walls of her home, and later went to Tesco with Doleman to buy a new phone.

Hough didn't give evidence, but her barrister said she wasn't intending to impede the police investigation, and had admitted to officers what she had done.

After a three week trial at Manchester Crown Court, Doleman was convicted of murder in a majority of 10 to 1 and Hough was convicted of assisting an offender in the same majority.

Mr Efunnuga was acquitted of murder and manslaughter.

Doleman, of Rossington Street, Newton Heath; and Hough, of Blandford Drive, Moston, are due to be sentenced on November 5.

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