Man given life sentence after Bodmin murder

32-year-old Michael Riddiough-Allen was fatally stabbed outside a nightclub in the town last year

Author: Megan PricePublished 12th Apr 2024
Last updated 12th Apr 2024

A man has been given a life sentence for murder after a tragic stabbing in Bodmin.

Michael Riddiough-Allen, 32, from Liskeard, was fatally stabbed outside a Bodmin nightclub, where a number of other people were also injured by Hill on 30 April 2023.

25-year-old Jake Hill, of Jubilee Terrace, Bodmin, will serve at least 28 years in jail after being sentenced for murder and four counts of wounding with intent.

22-year-old Tia Taylor, of Northey Road, has been given three years for manslaughter and perverting the course of justice.

22-year-old Chelsea Powell, of Granny's Green, has been sentenced to fifteen months for perverting the course of justice - she'll have to serve half before being released on licence.

The three defendants have been sentenced at Truro Crown Court today (Friday 12 April) by Her Honour Mrs Justice Cutts.

The trial

During the trial, the jury were taken back to 30 April last year.

CCTV footage played to the jury over the trial showed Mr Riddiough-Allen on the ground with Jake Hill.

One witness described Mr Hill to be on a "knife rampage", stabbing six people in a matter of seconds in the early hours of the morning.

The court has heard Mr Riddiough-Allen had been trying the break up a fight before he was stabbed.

Forensic evidence found Michael Riddiough-Allen was the fifth person to be stabbed in the incident. He died from a fatal "deep" stab wound, 12.5cm in depth, to the left side of his abdomen. The evidence described the blood loss from Riddiough-Allen’s injuries as "instant and severe."

Other victims suffered with cuts, bruising and wounding from the attack.

A major incident was declared due to the number of casualties and the nature of events, which led to inquiries commencing immediately.

Detective Inspector Ilona Rosson, major crime team at Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "This 'investigation' was incredibly complex. There was hours and hours of CCTV and hundreds of witnesses and lines of enquiry that had to be followed up especially in the first few days in a very time critical manner.

"My thoughts and my thanks goes out to the 'families'. I do hope the verdict and the sentence will help give them some closure going forward."

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