Two teenagers jailed for murder of 18-year-old

Two teenage boys who murdered a man in an unprovoked machete attack near a Swindon play park have been sentenced.

Tyler Hunt, 18, and a 15-year-old boy who cannot be named, killed 18-year-old Owen Dunn with single stab wound in broad daylight on 4 December 2022.

Both defendants denied murder, instead claiming they acted in self-defence.

However, prosecutors from CPS Wessex unravelled their lies to a jury by piecing together compelling eyewitness testimony and expert analysis to prove Mr Dunn had not incited any violence.

Having been convicted of murder and possession of a bladed weapon, Tyler Hunt was sentenced to a minimum term of 19 years in prison, while the 15-year-old boy was sentenced to a minimum of 12 years at Bristol Crown Court today (05/01/2024).

Mr Dunn was on his way to visit his girlfriend before he was attacked by the two males, who were aged 17 and 14 at the time.

Witnesses described how the two attackers, who were dressed in black and wearing balaclavas, accosted Mr Dunn on electric bikes before they each attempted to stab him. 

The younger defendant inflicted a fatal stab wound to Mr Dunn before they fled the scene.

The mortally injured Mr Dunn attempted to cycle away from Mazurek Way before collapsing in the road and, despite efforts from members of the public and paramedics, later died.

John Hepworth, District Crown Prosecutor at CPS Wessex, said: “It is unfathomable that two boys aged 17 and 14 could so brutally take another young man’s life in front of horrified members of the public, who will now have to live with what they witnessed that day.

“Working closely with Wiltshire Police, the CPS set out to prove that this was not self-defence or manslaughter – both defendants knew their actions could kill Mr Dunn, but they didn’t care.

“Cases like this must serve as a stark warning to anyone who believes it is acceptable to carry knives and weapons in any public space – it is not worth the grave consequences.”

At interview, both defendants initially stated they had nothing to do with the attack.

Once presented with further evidence they accepted involvement but maintained that they were acting in self-defence.

At trial, the prosecution disproved this by combining witness statements which said Mr Dunn showed no aggression towards the pair and that while Mr Dunn had possession of a blade, he had not reached for it at any point.