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Latest news in Yorkshire: Published March 14, 2019 12:18:13 PM
A 24-year-old man has been found guilty of murdering 31-year-old Gavin
Singleton from Hillsborough.
Danny Trotter of no-fixed-address, has been on trial at Sheffield Crown
Court since Monday 4 March charged with murder, Section 20 Wounding and
Section 18 Assault.
Today, Wednesday 13 March a jury found him guilty of murder following a
six-day trial and an hour of deliberation. He was also found guilty of
Section 20 Wounding which related to the stabbing of Scott Fauvel. He
was found not guilty of Section 18 Assault.
The court heard how, on Sunday 23 September 2018 the Yorkshire Ambulance
Service received a 999 call from a member of the public saying that two
men had been stabbed on Walkley Lane, Sheffield. On arrival, paramedics
found Mr Singleton to be in a critical condition. Members of the public
were performing CPR on him. He had sustained three stab wounds, one to
the chest and two to his right leg.
Officers who were first at the scene were quick to check CCTV footage
from a pub close to the scene of the incident and identified several
witnesses and the suspect, Danny Trotter.
At around 4.40am that morning officers arrested Trotter.
Speaking after the hearing Detective Chief Inspector Jude Ashmore said:
“Gavin Singleton started the evening with a group of friends before
travelling to Hillsborough to continue their night.
“He arranged to meet Danny Trotter using a friend’s phone and the two
men were seen on CCTV a number of times in and around the Rawson Spring
pub between around 11.53 pm and 12.02am when an altercation between the
two men took place on Walkley Lane.
“Trotter was seen to lunge at his victim several times and then walk
away back to the Rawson Spring and, at 12.04am he left towards Rudyard
Road.
“Mr Singleton also walked away up Walkley Lane towards his waiting
friends and then collapsed.
“Members of the public who were passing then attempted to help Mr
Singleton by administering first aid. As this happened a man fitting the
description of Trotter was seen to walk past the group, look at what was
happening, and continue walking.
“Paramedics arrived at 12.15am and treated Mr Singleton at the scene. He
was then taken to the Northern General hospital where he underwent
emergency surgery, at the time his injuries were described as life
threatening.
“Sadly, on 1 October 2018 the decision was made to withdraw life
support, and five days later on 6 October 2018 Mr Singleton died.”
When interviewed, Trotter was asked if he was there when Mr Singleton
was stabbed, which he denied. He was then asked if he knew anything
about the stabbing, which he denied knowing anything about until he got
a phone call.
However, as the investigation continued it became clear that this was
not the case. From witness statements gathered, the court heard how
Trotter sent a message to his sister implying that something had
happened and he was now in trouble. He was described as ‘freaking out’
and said that he had stabbed two people who had ‘jumped him’. He also
said that he had been carrying a knife because he was paranoid about
people who were ‘after him’.
Other witnesses reported hearing a conversation between three women who
clearly knew Trotter. They had received a text message from him implying
that he was scared following something that had happened that evening.
DCI Ashmore continued: “Mr Singleton and Danny Trotter had, in Trotter’s
own words, ‘known each other for years’ and were friends. On the night
Mr Singleton was critically injured, events had spiralled out of
control. Trotter has since said he was acting in self-defence during the
altercation, which is said to have been a dispute over money.
“The fact that Trotter tried to do all he could to avoid taking
responsibility for taking Mr Singleton’s life says so much about him as
a person. What amounts to a petty dispute over a relatively small sum of
money has resulted in a man losing his life.
“A knife crime doesn’t just affect the person stabbed, it also impacts
on the lives of friends and family, and the person who carried out the
attack. I urge anyone who is considering carrying a knife to think long
and hard about the consequences of what they’re doing.
“Today’s verdict reflects the severity of the crime Trotter committed
and he now has time to consider the decisions he made.”
Sentencing will take place at 2pm tomorrow at Sheffield Crown Court.
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[tags murder, police, sheffield]