Man jailed for life for murder of Staithes man left to be found by brother
Julian Hargreaves died three weeks after the brutal attack
Last updated 4 hours ago
A man has been jailed for life after murdering a man by assaulting him and hitting him over the head with a lamp in North Yorkshire.
42-year-old Huw Owen, of Cornucopia Close in Norton, was found guilty of the murder of Julian Hargreaves.
Julian was found by his brother on the floor of his living room on 14th March 2024.
He had two black eyes and a small cut to the top of his head.
It's believed he was laying there for around 14 hours with his injuries.
Police Staff Investigator Paul Thompson called the attack "brutal" and said it verged on torturing a vulnerable man.
Julian was able to name Owen as the man that attacked him.
He died three weeks later on 4th April 2024 in hospital.
Investigations later found that Owen hid from police near the scene, watching them as they worked.
He went on the run but was found in April 2024 after a large scale man-hunt.
Owen must serve a minimum of 16 years and 110 days.
Victim impact statements
In a victim impact statement, his brother wrote: "It's been almost 2 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 2 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."