Man Pleads Guilty to Murder of Victim Discovered in Stream

An individual has confessed to murder following the discovery of a 21-year-old’s body in a stream, bearing a cut throat and two stab wounds. Owen Fairclough’s remains were located by a group of teenagers near Risley Lane in Breaston, Derbyshire, on June 23, 2023. During proceedings at Derby Crown Court, Jack Towell, 22, residing at Castle Boulevard in Nottingham, entered a guilty plea to charges of murder and possessing an offensive weapon. David Oswald, 31, from Granville Square in Birmingham, along with two additional men whose identities are legally withheld, have pleaded not guilty to Mr Fairclough’s murder. The court was informed that Towell’s sentencing is scheduled to occur upon the conclusion of the trial. Jurors had previously been informed that Mr Fairclough arrived in Breaston on June 21 and was met by Towell, who “lured him” to a “secluded spot” where Mr Oswald and ‘Man A’ were “lying in wait for him.” On Wednesday, ‘Man A’ testified to the jury that while he, Towell, and Mr Oswald traveled together via taxi to Manorleigh, in Breaston, Towell subsequently departed alone after receiving a phone call and proceeding to meet an individual. When questioned by his defense counsel, Clive Stockwell KC, regarding whether Towell disclosed the identity of the person he was meeting or the purpose of the meeting, ‘Man A’ responded, “no.” He informed the court that following Towell’s departure, he and Mr Oswald walked for 10 to 15 minutes to a picnic bench on Hills Road, where ‘Man A’ stated he had arranged to encounter a customer for a drug transaction. Subsequent to the sale, he recounted that he and Mr Oswald remained at this location, consuming drugs until Towell reunited with them, after which they received a ride back to ‘Man A’s’ residence. ‘Man A’ testified to the court that he was unaware of Mr Fairclough, who was from Long Eaton in Derbyshire, and had no knowledge of any scheme to stab him or any participation in his demise. When questioned about a samurai sword and “Rambo” knife he owned – which the prosecution later posited were contained within a bag ‘Man A’ carried in Breaston on the night Mr Fairclough was murdered – he informed the court that he kept them as ornaments. When Mr Stockwell inquired if he had ever employed a samurai sword or “Rambo” knife to injure anyone, he stated, “no.” ‘Man A’ further declared: “I am a peaceful person and a drug dealer.” The judicial proceedings are ongoing.