A gang of vigilantes took to the streets to hunt down a killer 90 minutes after he'd murdered their friend. The men tracked Anthony George after he'd stabbed 25-year-old Tyrone Williamson to death in Bolton.
George, 42, had been with Mr Williamson at a house in the town earlier that day. He was thrown out of the property after being accused of stealing Mr Williamson's phone. A row then ensued between them in the street.
George, fuelled by vodka and cannabis, said 'watch what’s going to happen to them' before knifing Mr Williamson three times with severe force. Tyrone died in the hours following the fatal attack, at about 6.30pm, on Saturday, December 11, 2021.
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In the aftermath of the killing a group of men went out looking for George to seek 'revenge', the prosecution alleged. They found George out with a friend later that evening, at about 8.15pm.
One of the men chased George's pal away while others began a brutal attack, it was said. George was stabbed five times, as well as being punched, kicked and stamped on. He spent three weeks in hospital.
In December last year, George was found guilty of murdering Mr Williamson. He was handed a life sentence, and ordered to serve at least 21 years in prison.
Last month, four men went on trial at Manchester Crown Court accused of being involved in the subsequent attack on George. Brendan Carney, 27, was found guilty of wounding with intent as jurors returned their verdicts on Tuesday afternoon following a day of deliberations.
His brother, Nathan Carney-Williamson, 30, Roy Meanley, 29, and Thomas Lynch, 36, all denied wounding with intent and were acquitted. Giving evidence, Mr Carney-Williamson, Tyrone Williamson's brother, admitted he'd kicked George but said he was trying to 'disarm a murderer' to protect himself.
Two other men pleaded guilty to the same offence before the trial. Adam Disa-Green, 22, and Jason Wilding, 28, now face sentencing alongside Carney.
At the trial, prosecutor Jaime Hamilton KC said: "Retribution and revenge, no matter how serious what Anthony George may have just done, does not provide a lawful excuse for exacting violence against the person that you believe is responsible."
A sentencing date for Carney, of Cloister Street, Bolton; Disa-Green, of Singleton Avenue, Horwich; and Wilding, of Gilnow Gardens, Bolton; is yet to be fixed. Carney-Williamson, of Battenberg Road, Bolton; Meanley, of Rowena Street, Bolton; and Lynch, of Walley Street, Bolton, were found not guilty after a four week trial and discharged from the dock.
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