Teenager convicted of murdering 63-year-old man in Ipswich
Jake McMillan will be sentenced on Monday (9th February)
A teenager from Ipswich has been found guilty of murdering 63-year-old William McNicholl in December 2024, following a trial at Ipswich Crown Court.
Jake McMillan, now 18, faced charges of murder and involvement in the supply of cannabis.
The murder case began on 1st January 2025 when police responded to calls from a concerned friend and neighbor to an address in Hawthorn Drive, ultimately discovering William McNicholl, known as Billy, deceased.
Subsequent post-mortem examination revealed head injuries and a stab wound as the cause of death.
Suffolk Constabulary’s Major Investigation Team undertook the murder inquiry, leading to McMillan’s arrest initially on 22nd January 2025 as a 17-year-old boy, followed by a re-arrest in July after reaching 18 years of age.
In court, the jury heard that McMillan and Billy were acquainted, with McMillan frequently supplying drugs to Billy.
McMillan confirmed visiting Billy's residence on Christmas Day, remaining there for two hours.
Evidence from CCTV, fingerprints, DNA, and footprints tied McMillan to the crime scene.
McMillan was the sole individual documented entering the vicinity on that day, bolstered by additional evidence such as Billy's discarded mobile phones found in the River Orwell.
Despite McMillan’s subsequent claims of discovering Billy deceased upon arrival, his admitted actions, including disposing of Billy's mobile phone, did little to alleviate suspicion.
Detective Inspector Mark Hughes from the Major Investigation Team expressed the profound impact of the incident, stating, “This was a truly awful case of a man being attacked and killed in his own home."
“Billy’s family and friends lost a loved one in such horrific circumstances, and a young man now faces life as a convicted murderer."
Billy’s family shared their gratitude for the efforts of Suffolk Constabulary and those who supported them, stating, “William had such an undignified passing, so we are grateful with this result and that we can now finally offer him some dignity and peace.”
Detective Hughes acknowledged the extensive and intricate nature of the investigation, which involved reviewing hundreds of hours of CCTV footage.