Teenager who killed Grindr date in calculated murder is jailed for life
A “cold-blooded” teenage boy who stabbed his Grindr date more than 128 times has been sentenced to life in jail with a minimum of 24 years.
Brian Healless, 18, lured “kind and gentle” Alex Davies, also 18, to a secluded hillside in Lancashire before butchering him in a calculated murder.
Healless, of Chorley, was found guilty of the murder at Preston Crown Court and was sentenced yesterday.
Davies was killed on April 29 last year at a quiet area of Parbold Hill known as Alder Covert, after he and Healless met online and then arranged – via private social media messages – to meet up in person.
His body was found on May 1 by a gamekeeper who was walking his dog in the area. His body had been hidden under a blanket. The murder weapon – a kitchen knife – was located a short way from the body.
Detectives carried out a painstaking investigation, analysing DNA, mobile phone records belonging to both teenagers, Healless’s internet search history and CCTV.
Healless admitted killing Davies but said he had been suffering mental health problems. The jury rejected his claim that the killing was manslaughter, and he was found guilty of murder. Judge Mark Brown said: “It was a planned and premeditated killing.”