Brothers cleared of murder after killing burglar inside their home

Jamie Cunningham and his half-brother Karl Townsend walked out of the Liverpool Crown Court relieved after being told they were free to go by Judge Menary during a three-week trial.

The jury acquitted Cunningham of the murder of Jordan Brophy and could not come to a consensus on the same charge against Townsend.

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Prosecutors have indicated their intention to seek a retrial of Townsend, who used a knife to kill Brophy.

While on the road with Cunningham, Townsend was alerted on his phone by his Ring Doorbell security system that showed Brophy and two other men breaking into his home.

Brophy was caught inside the house while his cronies escaped unhurt, reported the Liverpool Echo.

Townsend told the court that he feared for his safety and acted in self-defense when he stabbed Brophy multiple times.

Prosecutors argued that Townsend acted out of “revenge or punishment” and that Cunningham was complicit throughout entire incident.