Man Killed by Friends Following False Bank Card Theft Accusation

Jonathan Hutty, 49, was “brutally attacked and killed” by two acquaintances after they wrongly accused him of stealing a bank card. Mr. Hutty was discovered with a severe head injury inside a flat in Padstow House, Hull, on February 24, having been “violently assaulted.” Humberside Police reported that he died in hospital 16 days later from his injuries. Ian Smalley, who admitted murder, and Gavin Leaning, who was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury following a four-week trial, are scheduled to be sentenced on December 11 at Hull Crown Court. A third individual, Leon Smith, 23, of Grasby Road, Hull, denied charges of murder and manslaughter and was cleared of both by the same jury. Humberside Police stated that two weeks prior to the attack, Smalley, 54, had reported his account card missing to the bank and mistakenly suspected Mr. Hutty had stolen it. Witnesses claimed Smalley was agitated about the missing bank card on the night of the assault. Detective Chief Inspector Ben Robinson, who led the force’s investigation, noted that all three defendants were captured on CCTV entering a lift to Mr. Hutty’s flat, where the victim was fatally attacked and subsequently left “for dead.” The detective further explained that Mr. Hutty had been “kicked, stamped and punched” during the time Leaning, Smalley, and Mr. Smith were in his flat. A friend later found him on the floor with a serious head injury and contacted emergency services. Mr. Robinson commented, “The callous and inexcusable actions committed by these men have left Jonathan’s family without a brother.” He added, “Due to the accusation over a missing bank card, Smalley and Leaning, went to Jonathan’s flat with one intention – to cause him serious harm. “Jonathan was killed by people he knew and trusted and regarded as his friends, having done nothing to warrant the brutal attack inflicted upon him.” Mr. Hutty’s blood was found on Smalley and Leaning’s footwear, as well as on Smalley’s jeans. Officers also recovered text messages sent by Smalley, in which he admitted killing his friend. All three individuals were initially arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm but were later charged with murder following the 49-year-old’s death. Smalley, of Hutt Street, Hull, had initially denied murder but admitted the charge when he changed his plea two days into the trial. Leaning, 51, of Padstow House, Hull, denied both murder and manslaughter but was convicted of the latter charge on Tuesday. Mr. Robinson stated that the post-mortem examination concluded the cause of death was “a severe head injury, likely as a result of an assault.” He concluded, “Whilst we welcome the outcome, we recognise nothing can reverse the horrendous actions committed by Smalley and Leaning or take away the heartache and pain Jonathan’s family have to live with for the rest of their lives.”