Killer stabbed a gay teen more than 100 times after a Grindr hook-up went horribly, horribly wrong
18-year-old Alex Davies was stabbed more than 100 times. (Lancashire Police)
A gay teenager was stabbed more than 100 times after meeting his killer Brian Healless on Grindr, a court heard this week.
According to the Liverpool Echo, Healless, 18, is currently on trial at Preston Crown Court, Lancashire, for the murder of 18-year-old Alex Davies.
Davies, from Skelmersdale, was declared a missing person on April 30, 2019, and his body was discovered by a gamekeeper in a secluded countryside spot on Parbold Hill, near Ormskirk, on May 1, 2019.
Jurors heard that the two teenagers met on the dating app Grindr, and arranged to meet in person on April 29, 2019.
The day before, Healless sent a message to Davies on Grindr saying: “We can cuddle, just not in public, go to a more discrete spot… I’m not out yet and like to be discrete about it.”
When detectives probed Healless’ internet history, they found that before meeting Davies, he had searched online, “How strong is the back of the skull?”, and had looked up how to wipe another person’s mobile phone.
Healless was spotted on CCTV cycling away from Parbold Hill just before 4pm, carrying a backpack that he had not been in possession of previously. Davies was seen on CCTV leaving his home that morning with a similar backpack.
Davies’ body was found two days later with more than 100 stab wounds, covered in branches. A black-handled kitchen knife was found nearby and is thought to be the weapon used to kill Davies.
The defendant was arrested on May 3 at his Chorley home. When police searched the property, they found headphones, a mobile phone and a wallet all belonging to Davies. A hoodie and a bike found in the house by police had traces of Davies’ blood on them.
The court also heard that in the days leading up to his arrest, Healless messaged another man on Grindr. He asked him what type of phone he had, and his internet history showed that he had researched how to wipe the model.
Brian Healless and his defence team have admitted that he killed Davies, but are denying murder charges.
Jurors will have to decide whether Healless had psychiatric problems which would lead to diminished responsibility for his actions.
According to the Liverpool Echo, prosecutor David McLachlan, QC, told jurors in Preston Crown Court: “To be clear, the issue for you will be whether this is a case of murder or whether this is a case of manslaughter by, and reason of, diminished responsibility.
“[Diminished responsibility] is a partial defence to murder which has the effect of reducing the crime of murder to one of manslaughter.”
The trial continues.
