Jake Hill has been jailed for life over the murder of Michael Riddiough-Allen (Picture: PA/SWNS)
A 25-year-old man who murdered a beloved local rugby player in a nightclub brawl in Cornwall has been jailed for life.
Michael Riddiough-Allen, 32, was stabbed to death outside the Eclipse nightclub in Bodmin in April 2023.
His killer, Jake Hill stabbed five people in around 20 seconds after a brawl erupted outside the nighclub with a serrated hunting knife that he had hidden in a nearby hedge.
Mr Riddiough-Allen, who was the fifth person to be stabbed, died at the scene after suffering a fatal wound to his stomach.
The jury heard how Allen, a rugby player had been out celebrating the end of the season with pals when the brawl broke out. He was unarmed and unknown to his attacker, and had intervened in an attempt to break up the fight.
Jake Hill, Tia Taylor and Chelsea Powell were arrested in connection with the attack, and have today been sentenced at Truro Crown Court.
Following days of deliberation, a jury sitting on the trial of the unanimously found Hill guilty of murder and guilty of four counts of wounding with intent.
He was found not guilty of another charge of wounding with intent and unlawful wounding.
As well as Mr Riddiough-Allen, Hill attacked Liam Phillips, Ryan Burger, Ryan Parsons, Rhiannon Tompsett and Stefan Williams.
They all received knife wounds in the brawl outside Eclipse.
Accomplice Tia Taylor, 22, who attacked Mr Riddiough-Allen as he lay injured on the ground, received a three-year prison sentence for manslaughter and perverting the course of justice.
Chelsea Powell, 23, was also jailed for 15 months for perverting the course of justice by lying to police following the incident.
Speaking to the court, Riddiough-Allen’s sister, Becky Dustan, described the void her brother’s death has left in the lives of those who knew and loved him.
She said: ‘The vision of [Michael] being beaten in his last moments is all we see when we close our eyes.’
Her statement went on to describe his death as ‘all encompassing’, adding ‘there isn’t a moment that goes by where we don’t think about him’.
She remarked about the ‘senseless’ and ‘avoidable’ death of her brother, saying: ‘Things will never be the same.’
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