‘Our son’s killer was coward who carried a knife on a night out’

The parents of a teenager stabbed to death during a night out have called his killer a “coward who carried a knife”

Matthew Daulby, 19, from Liverpool, was stabbed after two groups clashed outside a bar in Ormskirk, Lancashire, on 29 July 2023.

Thomas Dures, 21, eventually handed himself in at a police station in Greece after being on the run for 18 months, and was jailed for at least 23 years after being convicted of murder at Preston Crown Court.

Addressing Dures in a statement read to the court following his sentencing, Mr Daulby’s mother, Angela, said: “Your cowardly actions have meant we have not been able to grieve properly, which has increased our family’s trauma.”

Tuesday marks two years to the day since Mr Daulby was killed.

His mother said Dures’ decision to go on the run meant “we had no choice but to resort to doing things that, as private people, we would never have imagined having to do – like appear on TV appealing for [him] to be caught and face justice at the worst time in our lives”.

She said Dures “a coward who carried a knife” who wanted to avoid “owning up to murdering Matthew”.

Continuing to address Dures, she added: “Having to watch video footage, repeatedly, of Matthew being murdered and watching you walk away, carry on your evening and your life for another 18 months, I will never be able to forget or forgive.

“You have never shown any remorse or even acceptance that you murdered the most precious thing in our lives.

“My family will never be the same again. You have spoilt the happiest, loving family anybody could wish to have.”

She said the end of the trial “marks the end of a very long and challenging journey through the criminal justice system” but “the loss of Matthew is permanent, life-changing, and unbearable every day”.

Speaking outside court, Mr Daulby’s father, Gary, said: “After two horrendous years we have finally achieved justice for Matthew.

“I have very little to say about Thomas Dures. Just that he cowardly ran away and hid for a very long period after causing total devastation to my family,” he said.

“Matthew will be missed every day for the rest of our lives. His loss cannot be measured in a few words.

“I leave the last words to Matthew – choose life not a knife.”