The deaths of Macaulay Branighan, 27, following a violent attack in Stockton have resulted in two men being jailed after a trial at Teesside Crown Court.
Verdicts and sentences
The court found Stephen Ward, 26, guilty of murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years. Samuel Tweddle, 22, was convicted of manslaughter and given a 10-year prison term. A third man, who delivered the fatal blows with a machete, has not been identified and has not been charged.
| Name | Conviction | Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Stephen Ward, 26 | Murder | Life; minimum 20 years |
| Samuel Tweddle, 22 | Manslaughter | 10 years |
What happened
The attack took place on the evening of 12 October in the Hardwick area of Stockton. The court heard that Mr Branighan was chased after a chance encounter in which Tweddle suspected he had taken drugs from a dealer. Tweddle is said to have rallied others and the group pursued the victim.
CCTV evidence shown to the jury depicted the pursuit and the final confrontation in a front garden on Westerton Green, where Mr Branighan became trapped. An unidentified man produced a machete and used it against the victim as he tried to flee. Witness images also reportedly showed Ward encouraging his dog to attack and directing others to prevent escape.
"I've had a haircut, been to see my kids, got some clothes, I know what I've done."
The victim suffered multiple serious wounds to his back and legs. Forensic evidence presented at the trial confirmed he sustained five significant knife injuries, two of which penetrated to the bone. He was left with catastrophic blood loss and later died in hospital three days after the incident following multiple organ failure and a brain injury leading to cardiac arrest.
Local impact and outstanding questions
The attack has left the victim's family grappling with loss. In court, Mr Branighan's mother said she still does not know why her son was killed, and the family are "learning to live with a pain that does not fade." The third man who wielded the machete remains at large and unidentified, a point the prosecution highlighted when outlining the seriousness of the defendants' conduct in continuing the pursuit despite the presence of a weapon.
- Incident date: 12 October (evening)
- Location: Hardwick, Stockton — pursuit ended on Westerton Green
- Victim: Macaulay Branighan, 27 — died three days later in hospital
Police enquiries and appeals for information about the unidentified attacker will be of ongoing interest to the local community. Anyone with information relating to the person who used the machete or who witnessed the events in the Hardwick area on the night of 12 October is asked to contact Cleveland Police.
This prosecution underlines the severity with which the courts treat group violence involving weapons, and the sentences reflect the grave consequences for the victim and his family.
