Teenager jailed for life after man stabbed to death on night out in Clacton
The 16 year old has been convicted of the murder of 21 year old Harry Burkett
Last updated 8th Apr 2022
A 16 year old boy has been jailed for life after stabbing a man to death in Clacton last year.
21 year old Harry Burkett was stabbed to death during a night out in the seaside town on 11 September 2021.
He'd met up with friends but ended up parting company with them after being refused entry into a nightclub.
He later met up with several local people. Police are unsure what happened but it appears there was a disagreement followed by a chase between Harry and another member of the group.
Harry was confronted by the 16 year old on Orwell Road where he was stabbed. He managed to escape but collapsed in Station Road. Despite efforts to save his life he later died in hospital.
The teenager, who can't be named for legal reasons, was tracked down after detectives looked at CCTV. He was then arrested in Ipswich.
The teenager was charged with murder and possession of an offensive weapon. He was convicted at at Chelmsford Crown Court.
Following the trial, Detective Inspector Kev Hughes, of Essex Police, said:
“My immediate thoughts are with Harry’s family and friends.
“I know today’s verdict will be little consolation for the loss of their loved one and nothing can bring Harry back.
“But I am proud to have led the investigation and proud of my team’s dedication to securing justice for Harry.
“The young man convicted of Harry’s murder was carrying a knife and claimed he was acting in self-defence.
“There is never, ever any justification to carry a knife. He knows that now.”
The teenager received no separate penalty for a charge of possession of an offensive weapon.