Men on murder trial after killing burglar during home invasion

The incident took place October last year in Liverpool, England where Karl Townsend was notified by the Ring doorbell mobile app on his smartphone that his home was being burglarized.

Townsend was with his sibling Jamie Cunningham at the time the app alerted him. They both rushed to Townsend’s home and confronted the thieves.

Both men have pleaded not guilty.

The upset homeowner used a knife to inflict several wounds on one of the burglars, Jordan Brophy, 31, killing him. Brophy’s partners in crime managed to escape.

Townsend, however, stands accused of murder along with Cunningham in what is being called the ‘Ring Doorbell Murder Trial’.

Based on UK’s laws a proprietor can be charged with murder if it can be proven in Court that an intruder posed no threat to their life during a break-in. Similar law exists in other jurisdictions including Jamaica. 

And that is exactly what the prosecution team is trying to establish in the Liverpool Crown Court. As reported by the Liverpool Echo, lead prosecutor Richard Pratt, QC told the court that a “defenceless” Brophy was killed by Townsend “out of revenge or punishment”.

During the trial on Thursday, CCTV footage from Townsend home – aspects of which were inaudible and unclear at times – was presented. It showed Brophy and his cronies climbing over the fence and illegally entering the house. Townsend and Cunningham arrived at the property, and the former could be heard yelling at the men “hey what are you doing lad, get out”. Then Brophy was seen running while shouting “I can’t see, I can’t see”.

Brophy died from stab wounds to his head, arm and face. One of the stab wounds pierced Brophy’s optic nerve and left a piece of blade in his brain, the Court was told. 

The trial continues with the defence yet to present their arguments.