The family of Scots dad Paul Taylor say their lives have been “torn apart” by his death after his teen killer was found guilty of murder.
A jury at Carlisle Crown Court today found Jack Crawley, 20, guilty of the murder of 56-year-old father-of-two last year. The court heard how Taylor had been missing from his home in Annan since October 18, 2023, before his remains were discovered in remote woodland near Carlisle on May 2.
It emerged that Taylor had met with then 19-year-old Crawley for sex on the evening he was killed. The two met at a secluded spot on the outskirts of Carlisle before Crawley went on to brutally attack the dad with a mallet – leaving him with a series of fatal injuries.
Crawley then went on to burn the Army veteran’s body before burying his remains at Finglandrigg Wood, near Carlisle, where they were later discovered by police. Following Crawley’s conviction, Taylor’s family said their lives had been “torn apart” after the murder of their “gentle and loving” husband and father.
In a statement released through Cumbria Police, they said: “Our lives and world were completely torn apart on the 18Oct 2024 with the murder of Paul. To us he was a husband and a dad, gentle and loving. For many years Paul worked to protect his country giving up time being a husband and father, now was the time for us to be that family unit and we grieve the loss of that and of our future.
“Losing Paul in these circumstances and the torment and hurt this has caused has been horrendous and indescribable. Paul will be dearly missed and he will remain in our thoughts forever.”
Crawley admitted manslaughter but denied murder.
His claims of a carjacking gone wrong and trying to break up Taylor’s body with a mallet after death and burning was blown apart by damning forensic evidence. He denied prosecution suggestions that he had a fascination with serial killers.
As the verdicts were announced, Crawley showed no emotion in the court dock.
Senior Investigation Officer, Ian Hussey, said: “I would like to pay tribute to Paul’s family, they have remained dignified throughout the course of the investigation and our thoughts remain with them all. No outcome at court will ever serve as comfort to Paul’s family and friends, but I do hope that the verdict today will offer a small amount of closure for them knowing that Crawley has been brought to justice.”
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