County Line drug dealers found guilty in connection with Hull murder
David Hunt, 45, was stabbed nine times at a property in the city
Last updated 14th Feb 2025
Three County Line drug dealers involved in organised crime have been found guilty in connection with the murder of 45-year-old David Hunt at a property in Hull in June last year.
Following nearly a five-week trial, a jury reached a unanimous verdict and found a 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, guilty of murder, alongside Dean Dawkins, 20-year-old of Cherry Nook Road in Huddersfield who was found guilty of manslaughter.
Charlie Murray, 34-year-old, of Galpins Road in London, who attempted to assist those responsible and cover up David’s murder, has been found guilty of assisting an offender and conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine.
Barry Leiper, 47-year-old, of Hull pleaded guilty to the offence of perverting the course of justice at an earlier hearing at Hull Crown Court.
On Wednesday 19 June 2024, the 16-year-old and Dawkins were at an address on Arundel Close in Hull, when at around 7pm that evening, David attempted to gain access to the property. After getting no answer, David left and returned later at around 10pm the same evening, attending the address once again with three other people.
Refused entry, David entered the house through an upstairs window and was faced with the 16-year-old who proceeded to stab him nine times with a knife.
David managed to flee the property, before he collapsed on a grassed area outside and was found shortly after by a member of the public.
He was taken to hospital and died from his injuries a short while later.
The 16-year-old and Dawkins fled from the scene to a premises in Newtown Court before returning to their homes in Huddersfield.
Senior Investigating Officer in the case Detective Chief Inspector Jayne Goodens said: “The 16-year-old and Dawkins are violent drug dealers whose actions resulted in the murder of David in cold blood. It took just 50 seconds for David to be fatally wounded inside the property that day; that’s all it took to cause catastrophic injuries to his face, stomach, chest, arms, and neck, with such force that the knife came out the other side.
“Following the report to the police from a member of the public who discovered David laying in a pool of blood outside the property on Arundel Close, our enquiries swiftly commenced including reviewing hundreds of hours of CCTV footage in and around the area, conducting house to house enquiries, carrying out extensive analysis of phone data and various forensic examinations.
“As David lay bleeding on the ground outside, his friends tried to get those inside the house to call for an ambulance, but instead they all acted with thoughts only for themselves, callously barring the door and prepared to try to cover their tracks."
Detective Chief Inspector Goodens continued: “I would like to commend David’s family and friends who have shown incredible patience throughout the entirety of this investigation.
“Whilst the verdicts imposed cannot bring David back, I really hope that this provides his loved ones with a sense of comfort in knowing that those responsible for his death are being held accountable for their actions."
In total, five people will appear at Hull Crown Court for sentencing on Monday 17 March.