A MAN accused of murdering his friend in Barrow has been found guilty of murder and jailed for a minimum of 16 years.

Damien Hill has today been found guilty of murdering Guy Hamilton in a gruesome drink-fuelled attack with a three-foot machete.

The family of Mr Hamilton, who have sat in court throughout this week's trial, gasped as the verdict was returned. Hill has been jailed for life, and must serve a minimum sentence of 16 years behind bars.

In a statement read out to the court after the guilty verdict, Mr Hamilton's mother Elizabeth Rawlinson said: "I was very proud to call Guy my son."


In the statement, Mrs Rawlinson said that when she was told Guy had been killed, "my heart felt like it had been ripped from my chest".

She added: "Every night before I go to bed I have an image of Guy on the cold road edge with no one around him who loved him.

"I still have his voicemail on my phone to hear his voice again. I will never delete his number from my phone. I would do anything to feel his hug again."

In a statement from Mrs Rawlinson issued by police, she said: "First of all we would like to thank Cumbria Police for all their hard work. Especially the family liaison team and the DCI in charge of the case. Also our QC, Mr Medland, and everyone else involved in the case.

"We, Guy's parents, would also like to thank both of our families for their unwavering love and support during the past traumatic 11 months, as we strove to come to terms with the loss of our beloved son Guy.

“The jury found Hill guilty of murder and we feel the sentence is appropriate. Justice has been done for our son Guy.”

Detective Chief Inspector Furzana Nazir who led the murder investigation said: “I am pleased that Damien Hill has been convicted of killing Guy Hamilton, and that he will now spend time in prison for what he did.

“Serious cases like this one invariably involve a large number of people and experts from both the police and other accredited organisations, and I would like to thank all those that assisted in bringing this case to court and getting justice for Guy and his family.

“I’d also like to take this opportunity to highlight the dangers of collecting or owning machetes or large knives.

"As Guy’s death demonstrates, in the wrong hands these can be used against you and sadly lead to a fatality. You may have similar items or other martial arts weapons at home with no intention to use them, but this does not mean that you, and the community, are safe from the harm they can cause.

“The family – Guy’s mum Liz, and his stepdad Kevin – have remained composed throughout the trial, in the face of a situation that most parents will thankfully never find themselves in. My thoughts are with them and I would like to thank them for being strong during this extremely difficult time.”

Annabelle Hartley, District Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West said: “Damien Hill carried out a brutal attack upon his friend after spending an evening socialising together at the victim’s flat.

“He used a double edged black handled machete, which was around 65 cm in length, to cut his throat before leaving the flat and returning home.

“Throughout the case though Hill admitted he had inflicted the wounds, he denied that he had done so with the intention of causing serious harm or murder. However following a five day trial, the jury found him guilty of murdering Guy Hamilton.

“Today he has been given a life sentence; he must face up to the consequences of his violent actions.

“We sincerely hope that today's conviction and sentence brings Mr Hamilton’s family and friends some sense that justice has been served. Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time."

Hill, 45, has this week been on trial for the murder of Mr Hamilton, who died on April 30 of last year after suffering fatal injuries at his flat in Meetings View in Ormsgill.

Throughout the course of this week, the jury at Preston Crown Court has heard from witnesses to the aftermath of the incident.


The machete Damien Hill used to kill Guy Hamilton Hill, of Sowerby Avenue, has admitted he inflicted the fatal cut but has claimed to have no recollection of the attack.

During the trial, Hill has appeared in court dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a grey jumper sat quietly in the dock, his eyes moving from the jury's box, to the judge, to the public gallery.

Preston Crown Court heard that Hill and Mr Hamilton had consumed a large quantity of alcohol and had taken ketamine before and after they watched Barrow AFC take on Wrexham at Holker Street Stadium.

He and Mr Hamilton had gone to the Tally Ho pub after the football match, then visited a shop before they returned to Mr Hamilton’s home.

They had been due to go to a charity dance music night in Barrow town centre. The victim dialled a taxi at 9.44pm, arranging a 10.05pm pick-up.

But just eight minutes later, Mr Hamilton was dialling 999 after Hill had sliced his drinking pal’s jugular vein, causing damage to his voice box and spine. By the time emergency services arrived, it was too late.

The jury, made up of seven women and five men, were sent out to consider their verdict on Thursday afternoon. They returned a unanimous guilty verdict at just before 11.30am today.

Hill's previous convictions:

Three convictions of assault occasioning actual bodily harm

One conviction for ommon assault

One conviction for possession of a bladed article

One conviction for wounding with intent after he stabbed man in chest with a knife - jailed for six years.