Bodmin murder: Killer jailed for life after rugby player stabbed to death in brawl

Detective Inspector Ilona Rosson, from Devon & Cornwall Police’s the Major Crime Investigation Team, said after sentencing: "Michael Riddiough-Allen tried to protect those around him and disarm a man who felt the need to carry a knife. In doing so, he tragically he lost his life."

She said the case highlights the devastation and irreversible damage carrying and using a knife can cause.

Det Insp Rosson said: "This was an incredibly complex and challenging investigation. I would like to thank the investigation team for their tireless dedication to bringing the offenders to justice.

"I’d also like to thank the family of Michael Riddiough-Allen and the surviving victims. They have supported our investigation through the most challenging of times and I commend them for the strength and courage they have shown.

"I hope that the sentences imposed by the judge and the conclusion of this case brings them some closure."

Hill, Taylor and Powell went to the Eclipse nightclub on an impromptu night out on April 29, 2023.

Hill was carrying a tactical Kombat knife with him and, knowing he would be searched by security at the club, hid it in a hedge nearby.

Michael was also at the nightclub celebrating at his rugby team’s end of season party with friends.

When the club closed at around 3am on April 30, revellers began to make their way outside where a fight broke out and was growing as the club emptied.

CCTV cameras captured Hill running across the road and hunting around in a hedge trying to find his knife. He then ran straight into the brawl, with Taylor and Powell behind.

A short time later shouts of "I’ve been stabbed" could be heard with bleeding victims running for help.

Michael stepped in to try and disarm Hill but, in his heroic efforts, was attacked by Taylor.

Her actions left Michael unable to get away or protect himself as Hill inflicted the fatal blow.

Michael collapsed to the floor and was given first-aid by friends and emergency services, but he tragically died at the scene.

The judge told Hill in sentencing that she felt satisfied he took the knife to the scene of the murder intending to have it available as a weapon if the need arose.

She said that she accepted the defence's submission that he didn't intend to use the knife until he saw the violence outside the club unfold.

Aggravating factors included that the attack took place in public at night and in the context of ongoing disorder.

He was also drunk, had tried to hide the knife and hid from the police in Tia Taylor's loft.

The court heard Hill had previous convictions. In 2016, he was sentenced to three years in a young offenders' institution after pleading guilty to robbery and possession of an air gun.

He had also been cautioned previously for possession of a lock knife. The judge noted this demonstrated a previous association with weapons.

Mitigating factors included the lack of pre-meditation and that Hill had intended to cause serious bodily harm rather than to kill.

The judge also noted Hill had experienced a difficult childhood, with both parents addicted to Class A drugs. His mother died last year, the court heard.

Hill did have some prospects however, having trained as a carpenter and being in work at the time of the attack. His partner was also pregnant at the time. The judge told him: "This should have been the focus of your life."

The judge paid tribute to Mr Riddiough-Allen's "exceptional qualities" and expressed a hope that his family would be able to move forward in their lives in some way after today's sentencing.

Chelsea Powell has been sentenced to 15 months for perverting the course of justice by lying to police after the attack.

Tia Taylor, who attacked Mr Riddiough-Allen as he lay injured on the ground, has been sentenced to three years imprisonment.

She will serve half of that and will then be released on licence.

Hill has been sentenced to life and will serve 28 years before eligible for parole for the murder of Mr Riddiough-Allen.

Taking into account the time Hill has already spent on remand, the judge told the killer his minimum term will be reduced to 27 years and 18 days.

The sentence includes four counts of Section 18 wounding with intent.

Tia Taylor's toddler told police officers Hill was hiding in the loft of his home while his mother had lied to officers, saying he wasn't with her, the judge has said.

Hill was hiding from police in Taylor's home after the attacks.

The judge, in sentencing, told Hill he has not shown a shred of remorse for his crimes.

She said that during the murder trial she detected no regret on Hill's part.

The judge went on to repeat the family's description of Mr Riddiough-Allen as a "gentle giant", telling Hill he did not run from him but towards him in a bid to prevent Hill from harming others.

Michael Riddiough-Allen's sister, Becky Dustan, gave the last statement, describing the void her brother's death has left in the lives of those who knew and loved him.

She said: "The vision of [Michael] being beaten in his last moments is all we see when we close our eyes."

Her statement went on to describe his death as "all encompassing", adding "there isn't a moment that goes by where we don't think about him".

She remarked about the "senseless" and "avoidable" death of her brother, saying: "Things will never be the same."

Ryan Berger was stabbed in the groin and needed life-saving nine-hour surgery.

He said if it hadn't have been for a bouncer putting a belt around his leg as a tourniquet he would have "bled out and died".

Mr Berger phoned his mum as he bled in the street and told her he didn't think he would make it. He was left unable to walk and needed a wheelchair for up to four weeks after surgery. He still walks with a limp on occasion, the court heard.

His statement said: "After I'd been stabbed I thought I was dying. I'd said goodbye to my mum on the phone and there were times in the ambulance that I thought I was dying.

"It was a horrendous experience and incredibly traumatic."

Liam Phillips needed keyhole surgery after being stabbed in the abdomen during the attack.

He told the court how he was unable to work for three weeks afterwards and lost pay. He has a scar which he's often asked about and brings up memories of that night.

He said: "In the first few weeks I found it very hard to go out socialising. I felt vulnerable and I was worried something like that might happen again. I still think about the day in question."

He said what happened that day will "always stay with [him]" and will "never go away".

Mr Phillips added: "In summary what happened that day has had a massive and longlisting impact on me and my family."

The sentencing has begun at Truro Crown Court. It was scheduled to start at 10.30am today (April 12), but was delayed.

The courtroom is currently hearing statements about the impact of Hill's crimes on the victims' families.

After his conviction in March, Judge Mrs Justice Cutts told Hill that because of the murder conviction he faces life imprisonment.

She said only the minimum term he will serve needed to be determined.

Mr Riddiough-Allen's family said after the murder trial that his death had opened their eyes to the "growing problem in our society" of a rise in knife crime.

In a statement they said: "This journey has given us the purpose and motivation to try to make a difference.

"Whilst we are grateful for our justice system and its ability to uphold the laws of our society, today's verdicts are not a victory.

"There are no winners here. It is not just our family who lost someone they loved that night."

As well as Mr Riddiough-Allen, Hill attacked Liam Phillips, Ryan Burger, Ryan Parsons, Rhiannon Tompsett and Stefan Williams.

They all received knife wounds in the brawl outside Eclipse.

Michael Riddiough-Allen was an innocent bystander who was trying to disarm Hill when he was fatally stabbed.

He suffered a single stab wound to his abdomen and died at the scene.

Police found Hill hiding in a loft at Tia Taylor's home after the stabbing. She had claimed no one was at home.