A Ryedale man is starting a life sentence today for the brutal murder of a vulnerable victim.
Huw Owen, 42 from Cornucopia Close in Norton, was found guilty of killing Julian Hargreaves by a jury at Leeds Crown Court last month.
His co-accused, who was also charged with murder, was found not guilty.
On 14 March 2024, Julian’s brother Johnathan contacted police after finding him on the floor of his living room in Staithes.
Julian had two black eyes and had a small cut to the top of his head. Johnathan believed he had been on the floor for a total of 14 hours.
Julian was able to name Owen as the person who assaulted him repeatedly and struck him over the head with a lamp. He was then taken to hospital where he died three weeks later.
The investigation found that Owen had attacked Julian on the evening of 13 March 2024, left him on the floor and went on the run.
CCTV footage was found showing Owen on 14 March hiding from police near the scene, peering out now and again to see what was happening.
After a large scale man-hunt, Owen was located in April 2024 and arrested for murder.
Despite Julian’s medical vulnerabilities and pre-existing conditions, there was found to be a direct and substantial link between the head trauma and Julian’s death. Medical experts concluded that Julian had been unlawfully killed.
At Leeds Crown Court today he was given life imprisonment, to serve a minimum of 16 years and 110 days.
‘My heart is shattered’
The court heard impact statements from Julian’s family.
Julian’s brother said: “It’s been almost two years since the death of my brother Julian, and hardly a day goes by when I don’t remember the sight of him laying helplessly on the floor of his house in Staithes.
“I knew something was wrong as I found his door unlocked but was shocked at what I saw. To see him unable to move and helpless was beyond upsetting.
“I can still hear his voice, and it saddens me to think that I will never be able to see him or speak to him again.
“I am grateful for all the help of the NHS for looking after my brother and the care and commitment of all the police officers that have kept me, and my mother appraised throughout, without whom I am not sure we would have managed.”
Julian’s mother said: “I don’t think a day has gone by, since his death, that I have not cried at his loss and the way he was killed.
“I know that Julian was a poorly man but know he would have been alive today.”
Julian’s nephew said: “Not having him in our lives this last two years has felt like walking in a dark hole.
“Not being able to climb out of that hole, my heart is and always will be shattered and incomplete, like that of my extended family.”
Traumatic effect
Police Staff Investigator Paul Thompson, of Scarborough and Ryedale CID said: “This was a calculated and sustained brutal attack, verging on torture, on a vulnerable man.
“Callously, Julian was left lying on the floor overnight, alone and unable to move.
“Understandably, this incident has had a traumatic effect on both Julian’s family and the local community of Staithes. Julian was well known and liked, and his death will leave a lasting impact on the local tight-knit community.”
The senior investigating officer for this case, Detective Chief Inspector Tim Bentley said: “This has been a complex murder investigation – a long and difficult case to investigate due to Julian’s poor health prior to the assault, but I hope today’s result offers some comfort to Julian’s family that justice has been done, and that they can now move forward the best they can.”
