Teen who murdered 18-year-old named for first time

A teenage boy who murdered an 18-year-old in a machete attack has been named for the first time.

Ciaran Newman, formerly of Sackville Close in Walcot, was 14 when he fatally stabbed Owen Dunn in Swindon in 2022. Now that Newman is 18, a court order has been lifted, meaning his identity can be revealed.

Owen died from a single stab wound to the heart. His mother previously called for a change in the law to allow young people convicted of murder to be named.

Newman is serving a 12-year sentence in prison, while his co-defendant, Tyler Hunt, now 20, is serving a minimum term of 19 years for his role in the killing.

In a statement, the charity Owen's World, which was set up in his name, said: "Although time has moved forward, the pain of losing Owen has not, and developments like this resurface emotions that never truly fade."

Owen was cycling through a park on 4 December 2022 when he was attacked by the two balaclava-clad youths wielding machetes.

The teenagers dropped their bikes to block the path before trying to "slash" Owen in the chest.

He suffered one wound just below the armpit, which punctured his heart. He bled to death within the hour.

Owen's mum, Zoe Mitchell, previously spoke about why she felt legal protections that give children and teenagers anonymity should be lifted if they are convicted of murder.

Section 45 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 allows the criminal court to prevent the publication of a defendant under the age of 18 to protect their welfare.

Since Owen's murder, his family have worked to support Swindon's young people, setting up the Owen's World in his memory.

The charity has raised almost £17,000 through fundraising events, with the money going towards the installation of 11 bleed kits across the town.

Following the lifting of the restriction on Newman's name, the team at Owen's World released a statement, saying for them "this is not a distant tragedy - it is deeply personal".

They added: "Many of our team are Owen's family and friends, and our work is shaped by love, grief and the lasting impact his loss has had on our lives."

They said the naming of Newman "marks a significant moment in the ongoing legal process and brings into sharp focus the long and difficult journey that has led us here".

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