A teenager has been found guilty of murder after father-to-be Charlie Elms, from Limeside, was stabbed to death. 

Karl Marler, 17, of Third Avenue in Limeside, was found guilty on Wednesday (15 December) following a trial at Manchester Crown Court. His identity can now be revealed following the lifting of reporting restrictions. 

The court heard how just before midday on 26 May 2021, Charlie Elms, along with Frazer McDonald, 20, and Josh Newport, 23, had visited an address on Fifth Avenue, where they had been involved in a verbal altercation with the occupant who was in his front garden.

Later that day, Marler was seen roaming the Fifth Avenue area and visited multiple properties to talk to a number of people, including the man involved in the earlier altercation with Charlie Elms.

Later that day, Melvin Whelan, 39, Elliot Matthews, 18, and two 16-year-old boys who cannot be named for legal reasons visited the same street before all the men convened in a property with Marler.

Just after 5pm, a blue Vauxhall Corsa pulled onto Fifth Avenue containing Charlie Elms, Macauley McDonald, 26, Frazer McDonald, Newport, Luke Cloran, 18, and Kian Bobmanuel, 21. All six men exited the vehicle and began to attack the house the other group of men were in.

The group began to retreat when Whelan, Marler, Matthews and the 16-year-old - who was wielding a meat cleaver - left the property.

Four of the retreating group were able to flee in the Corsa, however Charlie Elms and Newport were left behind. As the car fled, the 16-year-old boy threw a meat cleaver through the window of the vehicle.

Both men attempted to flee on foot behind the car but were pursued by Whelan and Marler.

As the group ran onto Third Avenue both Charlie and Newport tripped and fell, allowing Marler to catch up with them. As he did, he then stabbed Charlie in his side before fleeing the scene.

Charlie attempted to flee but succumbed to his injuries and was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Charlie Elms

Marler then remained at large for 16 days before his subsequent arrest on 11 June.

Macauley McDonald, of Hewart Close, Manchester; Frazer McDonald, of Kilton Walk, Manchester; Luke Cloran, of Hewart Close, Manchester; Josh Newport, of Pollard Street, Manchester; Kian Bobmanuel, of Emmett Street East, Manchester and Melvin Whelan, of Greenacres Road, Oldham have all pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Elliot Matthews, of Coalshaw Green Road in Oldham, has pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed instrument.

A 16-year-old from Oldham pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possession of a bladed article and was sentenced to a 12 month referral order at a previous hearing. The second 16-year-old, from Oldham, was also sentenced to a six month referral order after pleading guilty to assisting an offender.

Detective Chief Inspector Carl Jones, of GMP's Major Incident Team, said: "I'm pleased the jury have been able to reach a verdict in relation to the violent murder of Charlie Elms and this has now led to Karl Marler being found guilty of his horrendous actions.

"The violent disorder and the subsequent murder of Elms happened in broad daylight in a built up area where children could have easily been playing. This type of senseless violence is completely unacceptable and it's a miracle no other people were caught up in the disorder and seriously injured.

"Thankfully, due to the swift work of detectives we were able to identify and apprehend all those involved and all of them now await what I suspect to be a substantial custodial sentence. I hope today's result also sends a clear and stark message that carrying and using knives will not be tolerated and no matter what your age, you will face the consequences of your actions."

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