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John McHale Tameside murder: David Platt given life sentence | John McHale Tameside murder: David Platt given life sentence |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A man found guilty of murdering a fellow Tameside guest house resident before setting fire to his body has been jailed for life. | A man found guilty of murdering a fellow Tameside guest house resident before setting fire to his body has been jailed for life. |
Police said John McHale, 57, was strangled with a ligature and stamped on by David Platt before being doused with white spirit and set alight. | Police said John McHale, 57, was strangled with a ligature and stamped on by David Platt before being doused with white spirit and set alight. |
Mr McHale's body was found in March at Syl's Guest House on Manchester Road, Audenshaw. | Mr McHale's body was found in March at Syl's Guest House on Manchester Road, Audenshaw. |
At Manchester Crown Court, Platt, 39, was told to serve at least 30 years. | At Manchester Crown Court, Platt, 39, was told to serve at least 30 years. |
The fire service was called to the guest house, where Platt and Mr McHale lived, after the sprinkler system was activated. | The fire service was called to the guest house, where Platt and Mr McHale lived, after the sprinkler system was activated. |
Mr McHale, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was found buried under a pile of duvets, curled up in the foetal position, police said. | Mr McHale, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was found buried under a pile of duvets, curled up in the foetal position, police said. |
One of Platt's fingerprints was found by crime scene investigators on a bottle of white spirit left in Mr McHale's bedroom. | One of Platt's fingerprints was found by crime scene investigators on a bottle of white spirit left in Mr McHale's bedroom. |
And a pillow matching a duvet found covering McHale's body was found in Platt's bedroom next door. | And a pillow matching a duvet found covering McHale's body was found in Platt's bedroom next door. |
Lucy Marlow, senior crown prosecutor for the CPS in the North West, said Platt was a "dangerous man" who had carried out a "premeditated and brutal murder". | |
She said: "The offence was motivated by both the defendant's desire for financial gain and his belief that the deceased, who was a convicted sex offender, was a lesser person than him. | |
"David Platt has shown no remorse throughout the case and continued to deny all responsibility for the murder and arson, but following trial a jury found him culpable of the offences he faced. | |
"The CPS and police will continue to work together to bring to justice those who take the law into their own hands and attempt to deliver their own retribution." |
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