‘Barking dog’ murderer jailed for life
AMURDERER who killed his disabled neighbour after a row over a barking dog has been jailed for at least 28 years – after being convicted of his second killing.
Raymond Burrell, 43, launched a brutal attack on Matthew Sheehan, who had asked him to take the dog inside or stop it from barking.
The assault would ultimately prove fatal, with Burrell’s victim dying from his injuries more than two years later, at the age of 36.
The assault happened in Adamscroft Place, Cardiff, at around 7am on September 1, 2015.
Mr Justice Griffiths described Mr Sheehan as “an exceptionally vulnerable adult”. He had progressive cerebellar ataxia, which affected his balance and coordination.
The judge said: “He was weak, he needed crutches to walk and he could not speak without gulping. But he had succeeded in living a completely independent life, in spite of his disabilities. He was a gentle, cheerful and muchloved friend, son, brother and uncle.”
The court heard Burrell lived near Mr Sheehan and kept a noisy barking dog outside in his garden.
Other neighbours complained to the housing association in 2014 and 2015.
Two days before the assault, the dog was barking and Mr Sheehan went outside and shouted: “Shut up.”
Burrell told him: “If you speak to my dog like that then I’ll go back to jail for you.” Burrell spent August 31, 2015, at a carnival and described himself as “wrecked” and “drunk as a skunk”.
The court heard he turned up on Mr Sheehan’s doorstep at 7am, swearing and kicking his door.
The judge said it was “completely unprovoked” behaviour. Mr Justice Griffiths said: “Matthew had not, as you absurdly tried to claim at trial, ever threatened you.”
The court heard Burrell kicked the door open and Mr Sheehan appeared barefoot, without his crutches or glasses. Burrell briefly went away and left Mr Sheehan bleeding, then came back and continued kicking him. He then dragged the body back into the flat.
The court heard the defendant violently resisted the police, who had to use CS spray to get him on the floor.
Burrell stood trial at Cardiff Crown Court in April 2016. Mr Sheehan was still in hospital, unable to communicate, while that trial took place.
That jury found him guilty of intending to cause grievous bodily harm.
Burrell was jailed for seven years in 2003 for the accidental manslaughter of a 17-year-old girl with an illegal firearm.
Burrell was jailed for life with a minimum term of 28 years. The 1,579 days he has already served will count.
MOTHER TELLS OF HEARTACHE
A VICTIM personal statement from Mr Sheehan’s grieving mother was read at yesterday’s hearing.
She said: “We have all suffered immeasurably from the loss of Matthew. He was almost unrecognisable and looked like someone had used him as a punchbag. Someone explained the countless machines keeping him alive.” She described his injuries as “horrific”. “For four months we sat by Matthew’s bed in critical care,” she added. “We had feelings of total despair, not knowing what the future had in store for Matthew.”
She described Matthew as vulnerable and said he could not defend himself.
“We felt devastated and helpless knowing there was little we could do to help the situation. We felt a rollercoaster of emotions going back and forth to the hospital every day.
“I can remember thinking: ‘He can’t go now.’ I remember the feeling of finally losing him was a pain almost too much to bear. Nothing will compensate us for the pain and heartache we have suffered.”