Cheadle killer sentenced for murdering Man City fan

12:24pm Friday 29th February 2008

By Robert Downes

A 46-year-old man who stabbed another to death following a confrontation in a Cheadle pub has today been convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.

46-year old-old Paul Moores, of Oakside Close in Cheadle, was convicted of killing Vincent Collins following a trial at Manchester Crown Court. He was ordered to serve a minimum of 15 years.

On the night of the murder last August, Vincent was with five friends drinking in the George and Dragon pub in High Street at about 7.45pm.

They were very rowdy and started to sing Manchester City football songs, but their singing became more offensive when they started chanting songs about the Munich air disaster.

A barman came over to the group and asked them to stop singing the Munich song. Vincent carried on singing, then went over to Moores - who had been sat quietly drinking on his own - and was seen to jab him in the face.

Moores told him he 'didn't want any bother', but Vincent punched him in the face. Vincent then turned his attention to a couple sat nearby and Moores got up and left the pub.

At this point Vincent's group were told they wouldn't be served any more alcohol. Vincent was stood at the bar, near the toilets, when Moores came back into the pub and calmly walked towards the toilets.

As he passed Vincent, Moores suddenly lunged at him and stabbed him in the back. He pulled the knife out, telling him: "You won't be hitting me again."

Collins then lay on the floor bleeding while his friends went to his aid. Some of them started to fight with Moores and the bar manager called the police.

A number of officers who had been patrolling nearby arrived on the scene within seconds, disarmed Moores after a brief struggle and arrested him.

Vincent was taken to Stepping Hill hospital where he was treated for the single stab wound, but died three days later.

Detective Inspector Terry Sweeney of Stockport CID said outside the court: "This was the senseless killing of a man who died with a single stab wound.

"This was a premeditated attack in which Moores had time to leave the pub, get the knife, and calmly walk up to his victim before stabbing him.

"Vincent may have been no angel, but he didn't deserve to be brutally attacked in such a cold-blooded attack."

What do you think? Is life too long for a provoked attack? Leave your comments below.