Altrincham: Man convicted of murder of cousin of Tyson Fury

Liam O'Pray stabbed Rico Burton and slashed a teenager, Harvey Reilly, during the incident last year.

During the trial this month the family of Mr Burton cried as CCTV was shown of a brawl outside a bar on Goose Green, which was over in seconds, according to prosecutor Michael Brady.

Mr Brady told the jurors the fight started between friends of O'Pray and friends of Mr Burton, and ended when O'Pray stabbed Mr Burton in the neck and almost severed the artery to his brain.

O'Pray slashed Mr Reilly two times, once to the abdomen and once to the arm, Mr Brady said, before he was knocked unconscious.

The emergency services were called to the scene but, despite the efforts of passersby and paramedics, Mr Burton was declared dead.

Mr Reilly was treated for a 14cm cut to his abdomen which exposed his ribs and a large wound to his arm.

O'Pray admitted possession of cocaine and possession of a knife in a public place but he denied murder and wounding with intent.

He told the jurors he acted in self-defence and he was not a 'violent person'.

On Friday, the jurors cast out this account and convicted him of murder and wounding with intent after three and a half hours of deliberation. The family of Mr Burton shouted 'yes' in response to the verdict while O'Pray made no reaction in the dock.

The 22-year-old, of Little Moss Lane, Clifton, Salford, is to be sentenced by Judge Alan Conrad at Manchester Crown Court on August 4.

The mandatory sentence is a life sentence but Judge Conrad must set a minimum term for the imprisonment.

Nicola Carter, a crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: "Nothing can make up for the loss of Rico or the serious injuries to the teenager. 

"I hope knowing O’Pray has been brought to justice will provide some comfort to their family and friends. My thoughts are with them."

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.