Man jailed for 'eyeball' murder

Billy Wilson killed Mr Tullet only hours after his brother attacked him

A man has been jailed for life for the murder of his mother's ex-partner whose eye was gouged out and found in a beer can in his fridge.

Michael Tullet, 53, Droylsden, Greater Manchester, was stamped on, kicked and punched in the attack at his home.

William Wilson, 31, known as Billy, of Clydsdale Gardens, Beswick, was given a life sentence for murder, with a recommendation to serve 18 years.

His brother, Anthony Wilson, 34, admitted assaulting Mr Tullet.

At Manchester Crown Court, Anthony Wilson, of Beatrice Wignall Street, Droylsden, was cleared of murder, but had pleaded guilty to attacking Mr Tullet hours before his brother killed him.

He was sentenced to two years in prison.

The court heard that the pair had a grudge against Mr Tullet over the way he had treated their mother, his former partner.

Michael Tullet's body was found five days after he died

When Anthony Wilson saw Mr Tullet in a Droylsden pub on Easter Sunday last year, an argument started and Wilson knocked Mr Tullet unconscious to the floor.

A few days later he was found dead at his home in Ribble Walk.

Police say Mr Tullet, who has a teenage son, had been subjected to a violent attack after returning home.

His eyeball had been gouged out while he was still alive and was found in an opened beer can in his fridge.

Forensic evidence linked trainer marks on Mr Tullet's body to shoes found at Billy Wilson's home. Blood was also found on Wilson's jumper.

'Violent' murder

Det Supt John Dineen, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "Billy clearly held a grudge against Michael and took this grudge too far when he brutally and violently murdered Michael in his own home.

"Anthony had assaulted Michael earlier in the evening and had already knocked him unconscious.

"Not content with that, his brother, Billy, later went to Michael's house on Ribble Walk and murdered Michael.

"Michael's post mortem revealed he had suffered an extremely vicious assault, being stamped on, kicked, punched and even having his eye gouged out."