Prison for eighth man who chased teen before his death
SENTENCING OF EIGHTH MAN INVOLVED IN INCIDENT THAT LED TO THE DEATH OF HARRY BAKER CAN NOW BE REVEALED
THE sentencing of an eighth man involved in the events leading up to the death of Harry Baker can now be reported.
Nathan Delafontaine, 34, was in the company of Harry’s killers the day before and the night of his death and was initially involved in chasing him to Barry Intermodal Terminal.
On August 28, 2019, Harry was repeatedly stabbed, stripped and left for dead in the yard. His body was found by workers later that morning.
Killers Leon Clifford, 23, Peter McCarthy, 38, Ryan Palmer, 34, Lewis Evans, 62, and Raymond Thompson, 48, who are all from Barry, as well as Leon Symons, 22, from Ely, in Cardiff, and 17-year-old Brandon Liversidge, of Caerau, were sentenced at Newport
Crown Court on Monday.
Delafontaine was sentenced on June
30 last year but a reporting restriction under the Contempt of Court Act
1981 prevented publication of the hearing until the cases against his codefendants had concluded.
The details of that hearing can now be reported. The sentencing hearing was told Delafontaine pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Prosecutor Paul Lewis QC told the court the defendant, who had the nickname “Delboy”, had previous convictions for criminal damage, failing to comply with a community order, and two cautions for assault.
Prior to Harry’s murder Delafontaine had been at Thompson’s house in Hillary Rise with all of the defendants apart from Evans and had been involved in searches for Harry throughout August 27, 2019. Shortly after midnight on August 28 Delafontaine walked to Little Moors Hill with Palmer, McCarthy and two females, where Harry and his friend Louis Johnson were ambushed by the defendants.
Mr Lewis said: “Violence erupted and individuals were brandishing knives. Moments earlier Delafontaine had been holding the lead of his dog but he handed the dog to a female close by and then he made his way across the road where that incident was occurring.
“He led on with Palmer and McCarthy behind him. At the same moment Mr Baker and Mr Johnson fled and they ran down the road under the bridge and on to Cardiff Road, turned right, and headed in the general direction of the docks. “Those who had been involved in the initial attack upon Mr Baker and his friend pursued them. Those who had joined, including Delafontaine, also gave chase.
“Liversidge led the chase followed by the rest of the defendants with Delafontaine and Thompson at the rear.
“The pursuit went along Cardiff Road across Ffordd Y Mileniwm to Wimborne Road and into the intermodal terminal.
“Harry Baker and Louis Johnson tried to climb out of the yard but Mr Baker did not succeed.”
At this point Harry was “repeatedly stabbed” before his killers left the yard and were picked up in a Nissan Juke by Evans.
Mr Lewis added: “Delafontaine and Thompson did not pursue Mr Baker to the terminal. They went half of the way and turned off together, making their way back to Thompson’s home in Hillary Rise.”
Delafontaine spent the night at Thompson’s house along with McCarthy and Palmer.
He was arrested that evening and in his police interview he claimed he had taken part in the chase because he was “intrigued by what was going to happen”.
The defendant lied to police by saying he had not seen Palmer or McCarthy again that night but during the course of the interview he was shown CCTV which disproved his claim.
In mitigation David Elias QC said: “There is no evidence he’s someone involved in careful planning.
“He took his dog for a walk with him that was not taken to use in the offence because the first thing he did was to make sure the dog was safe with someone else.
“We accept he knew full well about the ambush and he followed on.
“He jogs and is towards the back of the group and very quickly falls back.
“After about 500 yards he turns back on himself and comes back to collect his dog.
“He accepts he lent support to that violent disorder but he didn’t cause any violence and he did not have a weapon while others did.”
Sentencing, Mr Justice Picken said he accepted Delafontaine pulled back while others proceeded to the intermodal terminal.
He said: “It’s suggested you yourself were not engaged in significant planning or did not plan to target Mr Baker but I can’t overlook that the incident led to the death of Mr Baker.”
Delafontaine was sentenced to 28 months’ imprisonment.