I helped this homeless person. Now he’s here. I’m scared
CHILLING LAST TEXT FROM MAN STABBED TO DEATH AFTER HE TOOK IN NEIGHBOUR WHO WAS ABOUT TO LOSE HIS FLAT
A LABOURER was stabbed to death by a neighbour he had taken in because he was about to become homeless.
Philip Owen, 42, had spent the evening with friends before he saw Ashley Bosson, 25, who had been given notice to leave his flat.
They left the pub together chatting, but an hour later Mr Owen sent a friend a chilling text message saying: “I helped this homeless person now he’s here. I’m scared”.
The next day Mr Owen was found dead with a deep stab wound to his neck in his flat above a hair salon in Gloucester Road, Urmston.
A jury at Manchester Crown Court found Bosson guilty of Mr Owen’s manslaughter after a three-week trial but not guilty of murder. He will be sentenced next month.
The trial heard that Mr Owen, who was originally from Wales, had spent the night before he died drinking with friends in Urmston.
On the night of the murder, at 1.15am, Mr Owen and Bosson were seen leaving the pub together, chatting as they walked.
At about 2am, Mr Owen texted a friend saying he was scared.
Later that morning, before 8am, Mr Owen’s next door neighbour Simon Cooper heard him say ‘stop it’ three times in a ‘commanding tone,’ the court heard.
Mr Cooper said he did not hear Mr Owen’s voice again, but said he heard another voice, which the prosecution said was Bosson.
He was heard talking about going to Liverpool, and began to ‘sing rap’ from the bathroom, the jury was told.
After having no response to calls or texts, Mr Owen’s friends visited his home at about 7pm and found him dead on the living room floor, with a plaster on his neck wound.
The day after, Bosson’s grandfather noticed that he was ‘talking to himself, laughing like a hyena, acting as if he was possessed and unstable.’
After taking him to Trafford General Hospital, Bosson told his grandfather: “I’ve done something stupid grandad”.
His DNA was found on a hooded top which had Mr Owen’s blood on it, Bosson’s semen was found on a tissue in the living room, and Mr Owen’s blood was found on boxer shorts worn by Bosson.
He was moved to the Royal Bolton Hospital and was arrested on suspicion of murder.
Later Bosson, of no fixed address, was transferred to Prestwich psychiatric hospital, where he has appeared from via video link to the court during the trial.
Sentencing was adjourned until October 12 for reports to be drawn up to assist the judge in making his decision.
At the time of Mr Owen’s death, his family issued a tribute via GMP which read: “He was a good brother and son and always worked really hard at everything he did. He could make friends in a second and was a really likeable person who lived life to the full.”