James Halliday punched, kicked and stabbed his former pal Darren Catherall in what police described as a brutal attack, then left him to bleed to death.

After a four-day trial Halliday, of Grasmere Avenue, Higher Ince, was convicted of murder by a jury at Manchester Crown Court Crown Square. He must serve at least 15 years behind bars.

Mr Catherall, a 40-year-old father of six, was found collapsed on Thorburn Road, Norley, at about 7.15pm on December 25 last year.
A passing motorist thought he had been the victim of a car crash and he was taken to Wigan Infirmary where he later died.

The victim who lived on Walter Street, Newtown, had been making the short journey from his ex-girlfriend's house to his home when he was attacked.

Halliday, 29, had been a friend of Mr Catherall, but by Christmas Day there had been some animosity between the two men over Halliday's girlfriend.

A witness heard two men shouting at each other moments before Mr Catherall was found bleeding to death.

The court heard that Halliday punched him so that he fell backwards and kicked him in the face as he lay on the ground. Halliday then stabbed him twice in the thigh. Mr Catherall died from a loss of blood due to the wound which severed the main artery in his leg.

Halliday claimed that Mr Catherall had injured himself in a fall.
Shortly after the killing, a witness who was the first person to see the murder victim lying in the street, told the Evening Post he initially mistook the blood-soaked body for a pile of rubbish.

After yesterday's hearing, Det Sgt Derek Houston said: "Darren's death has left his family devastated.

"Halliday lied during his interviews and claimed he had seen Darren
fall in the street and that he went to help him out. But the jury saw through his lies and he will now have a long time in prison to reflect on what he did that Christmas night."

A 38-year-old woman who was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice in connection with the killing was later released without charge and police decided to take no further action against her.