Man Convicted Of Pool Cue Murder

A man has been convicted of beating his sister's boyfriend to death with a pool cue.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Daniel Breaks, 48, killed Simon Sutton as he had suspected that he had informed police about an alleged blackmail attempt on a bank.

Yesterday, Breaks, of Hallville Road, Mossely Hill, Liverpool, was convicted of murder and two offences of kidnap. He was cleared of blackmail and the jury was discharged from reaching verdicts on two charges of false imprisonment.

After the verdict, Breaks shouted a threat to Mr Justice Openshaw after being unanimously convicted of battering Simon Sutton before reportedly ordering his sister's children to stamp on his body.

It is understood that he then showed off the body to his mother, his sister Susan and a friend before wrapping the body in bin bags and dumping it in an alley.

Breaks, who is believed to have nearly 300 convictions, reportedly threatened the judge saying: "I will escape and I will kill you".

Mr Justice Openshaw is quoted as responding: "He's unlikely to have the chance to carry it out, members of the jury."

Prosecuting, Tim Holroyde, QC, told the jury that Breaks had targeted his sister Gywneth's partner over allegations he had "grassed" to police about an alleged blackmail conspiracy of HSBC Bank in Newcastle.

The defendant, who has also been found guilty of kidnapping Co Durham couple Charles and Joy Heaps, after going on the run, will be sentenced today.

It is reported that the couple had their wrists tied and were threatened with death if they contacted police.

At the end of the ordeal, the couple were abandoned in their car in Southall, west of London, and Breaks continued on the run, leading to a nationwide hunt.

After the verdict, Mr Sutton's brother, Mark, 38 said "the jury has seen through his lives and now everybody can see him for the monster he really is".

(DS)