Updates as five defendants sentenced for Alison McBlain murder
Alison McBlain and Christian Rivers were hit by a car on Tuesday November 19 2019. Mr Rivers survived but Ms McBlain did not, and she died two days later in hospital. An investigation was launched and six people were charged with her murder. Following a five week trial at Preston Crown Court, on Monday, four of the six defendants were found guilty of her murder. One defendant was found guilty of manslaughter and the youth defendant was acquitted on all charges. Today, Jon-Paul Chatwood, Kaylib Connolly, Dean Qayum, Joshua Titterington and Karis Poynton will be sentenced for three offences. For the murder of Alison McBlain, the jury unanimously found Joshua Titterington, Kaylib Connolly, Dean Qayum and Karis Poynton guilty. They found Jon-Paul Chatwood not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter. For the attempted murder of Christian Rivers, the jury found both Qayum and Connolly guilty. All the other defendants were found not guilty. For the third charge of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent on Christian Rivers, Titterington, Qayum, Connolly and Poynton were found guilty. Chatwood was found not guilty.
