Killer Jailed for Life After Teen Victim Dies of Epileptic Seizure 16 Years After Brutal Attack

A man has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 10 years for the murder of a teenager who died from an epileptic seizure 16 years after a violent assault. Jordan Burton, then 14, attacked Daniel Allright, then 16, with a piece of wood and a bicycle chain in Deptford, south-east London, on September 13, 2006.

Burton was found guilty of murder on Tuesday following a trial at the Old Bailey and received his sentence at the same court on Wednesday. The court heard that Mr. Allright was discovered dead in his bath by his mother on March 26, 2022. A post-mortem examination determined that post-traumatic epilepsy was the cause of his death.

Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson KC told the court that Mr. Allright had suffered his first seizure in 2007, a year after the attack. His epilepsy worsened in the months leading up to his death. Jurors were informed that the initial incident occurred when Mr. Allright and two friends were riding their bikes and were confronted by a group of youths attempting to rob them. When Mr. Allright intervened, he was struck on the head with a piece of wood, sustaining severe head injuries and internal bleeding.

He underwent two operations, including one that replaced part of his skull with a titanium plate to relieve pressure on his brain. Despite his condition, Mr. Allright went on to have four children. His mother, Geraldine Henderson, described her son as having "a heart of gold" and that he remained positive despite his long-term health struggles. She testified that witnessing her son's death was a trauma she relives daily.

Victoria Henderson, Mr. Allright's sister, remembered him as "the glue that kept us together" and "my rock."

During the defense's presentation, it was noted that Burton, now 34, was selected by Crystal Palace Football Club at age seven but his football career ended at 13 due to an injury. Burton initially denied involvement in the attack but later pleaded guilty to violent disorder and unlawful wounding in 2008. He has accumulated 14 convictions for 28 offenses since the initial incident. He denied wrongdoing during his murder trial, claiming he was pressured into admitting the assault in 2008.

Judge Anthony Leonard KC acknowledged Burton's age at the time of the attack, stating, "You took the leading role. It is quite apparent you were the ringleader within your group." The judge added that Burton had the opportunity to live his life in ways that were not available to Mr. Allright, whose family had to watch him suffer from thousands of seizures over 16 years. The court recognized that no sentence could compensate for the loss experienced by the victim's family.