Man convicted over Wood Farm Park murder

A jury found Liam Jones, 45, of Bonar Road in the city guilty of killing Phillip Breach in November 2022.

Liam Jones
Author: Andrea FoxPublished 22nd Mar 2024

A jury at Reading Crown Court found Liam Jones, aged 45, of Bonar Road, Oxford, guilty of one count of murder by majority verdict at Reading Crown Court today.

At around 6.05am on 30 November 2022, officers attended Wood Farm Park between Wood Farm Road and Nuffield Road following a report of a man calling for help.

The victim, Phillip Breach, aged 59, from Oxford, was found with a head wound in a critical condition beside a path in the park.

Phillip was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital for further treatment but he sadly died soon afterwards.

A post mortem concluded that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and neck.

Jones was arrested on 1 December 2022 and charged on 5 December 2022.

Jones was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced at the same court on 23 May.

Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Pete Clarke, of the Major Crime Unit, said: “First and foremost, I would like to commend Phillip Breach’s family for their patience as they have had to wait over 15 months for justice, as the trial had to be abandoned last year due to Liam Jones’ ill health.

“A very dangerous man, Jones, has now been convicted of murdering Phillip after a lengthy and thorough investigation.

“Thames Valley Police will never tolerate such violence in its communities and will always seek to bring offenders to justice.”

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