Christmas Day murderer jailed for life

4:08pm Thursday 15th May 2008

A man has been jailed for life for the Christmas Day murder of a Wigan father-of-six.

James Halliday aged 29, of Grasmere Avenue, Higher Ince punched, kicked and stabbed Darren Catherall on Christmas Day.

Halliday was convicted of murder by a jury at Manchester Crown Court Crown Square and sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum tariff of 15 years.

Darren Catherall, 40 was found collapsed on Thorburn Road, Norley Hall at about 7.15pm.

A passing motorist thought he had been the victim of a car crash and Darren was taken to Wigan Royal Infirmary where he later died.

Darren who lived on Walter Street, Wigan, had been making the short journey from his ex-girlfriend's house to his home when he was attacked by Halliday.

Halliday had been a friend of Darren, but by Christmas Day, there had been some animosity between the two men over Halliday's girlfriend.

A witness heard two men shouting at each other moments before Darren was found bleeding to death.

Halliday punched Darren so he fell backwards and kicked him in the face. Halliday then stabbed him twice in the thigh.

He died from a catastrophic loss of blood due to the stab wound that severed the femoral artery.

Speaking after the case, Detective Sergeant Derek Houston, of the Major Incident team, said: "Darren's life was tragically cut short and his death has left his family devastated.

"Halliday lied during his interviews and claimed he had seen Darren fall in the street and that he went to help him out.

"But the jury saw through his lies and he will now have a long time in prison to reflect on what he did that Christmas night."