Stab death teenager ‘was lured to house’
Murder trial is told drug debt feud led to tragedy
ATEENAGER was murdered after being lured to a house where armed men were ‘lying in wait,’ a jury was told.
Callum Riley, 17, died after being stabbed at a property on Heywood’s Darnhill estate.
Three men are on trial at Manchester Crown Court, accused of his murder.
Tony Adams, 34, Dale Heywood, 26 and a 17-yearold boy who cannot be named for legal reasons, have all pleaded not guilty.
Two women are also on trial, accused of assisting an offender, after allegedly ‘cleaning’ the scene of blood and glass.
Mr Adams’s partner Michelle Conaghan, 35 and their daughter, Niomi Conaghan, 19, both deny the charge.
Mr Riley was knifed to the leg in the doorway of Mr Adams’ home on Atholl Drive, at 5am on September 17, 2022, the court heard.
Prosecutors claim that he was ‘probably’ stabbed by Mr Heywood.
Mr Riley and a friend had both turned up at Mr Adams’ home ‘intent on taking revenge,’ prosecutor Nicholas de la Poer KC said, on the first day of the murder trial.
He told the jury: “Those responsible for Callum Riley’s death were not innocent householders who had the misfortune of being targeted by random local troublemakers.
“They had planned for Callum Riley coming, they expected it and they were lying in wait.
“To their minds, Callum Riley needed to be put in his place, a lesson needed to be taught and that was to be through the point of a blade and the swing of a bat.”
Prosecutors claim that Mr Riley had been deliberately provoked after Mr Adams had allegedly ‘assembled a crew of men’ to attend his home earlier that night, where windows were smashed just after midnight.
Mr Riley was not present in the house, but after hearing of the incident he travelled to Mr Adams’ home.
He and a friend had arrived holding bottles of beer, with Mr Riley smashing one before reaching the house.
During a confrontation in the doorway of the home, Mr Riley and his associate were both stabbed, jurors heard.
His friend was not seriously hurt, but Mr Riley suffered a fatal wound to his leg.
He was able to run away from the property but collapsed further down the street.
A member of the public discovered his body about two hours later and the police were called. Mr Riley was pronounced dead at 7.42am.
In the aftermath of the alleged murder, Michelle Conaghan and Niomi Conaghan are said to have poured water over the doorway of the house and cleared up glass.
Jurors at Manchester Crown Court were told that there was ‘history’ between Mr Riley and Mr Adams and that there was ‘no love lost.’ There was previously said to have been a row between them over a £180 drugs debt, when Mr Riley had bought cannabis from Mr Adams a year before the alleged murder.
Mr Adams later allegedly turned up at Mr Riley’s home with ‘four heavies.’
Trouble flared between them again in September 2022, the jury was told.
Mr de la Poer said: “The catalyst was rumours that a friend of Callum Riley was going to grass on Tony Adams, about Tony Adams’ stash of drugs. A lesson needed to be taught and Callum Riley’s friend was threatened by an associate of Tony Adams.”
Mr Riley became involved in the dispute after ‘standing up’ for his associate, the court heard.
He sent a message to the 17-year-old defendant ‘daring’ him to come round to his home on September 17, prosecutors said.
After being arrested, Mr Adams, who prosecutors claim was holding a baseball bat when Mr Riley attended his home, told police he had been acting in defence of his family and property.
After being arrested again in March last year, he told officers: “Dale’s done the murder, what have yous not got?” Later, he added: “Cos he needs to be arrested he’s f ****** killed the boy and now you’re blaming it all on us, it’s f ****** mad.”
Mr de la Poer told jurors: “We have no doubt that in the course of this trial it will be repeatedly pointed out, quite properly, on behalf of those representing the defendants accused of murder, that Callum Riley came armed to Tony Adams’ family home. And this is a proper point, because it is true.
“But, as we are sure the judge will direct you in due course, the law does not allow citizens to deliberately provoke violence and then claim they are defending themselves when that violence breaks out.
“If that were the case,
every drug dealer in the country would do this and thereby eliminate with impunity those that defy them.”
Mr Adams, of Minshull New Road, Crewe; Mr Heywood, of Windermere Road, Middleton and the 17-year-old all deny murder. The three defendants also deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Mr Heywood and the 17-year-old deny causing criminal damage. Jurors have heard Mr Adams has pleaded guilty to this offence.
Mr Heywood also denies possessing an offensive weapon. Michelle Conaghan and Niomi Conaghan, both of Minshull New Road, Crewe, both deny assisting an offender.