Manchester Man Jailed Life For Brutal Homeless Murder

Joshua Carroll was sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of Headley "Barry" Thomas, a homeless man whom Carroll chased and violently attacked in Penn Park, Old Trafford, in September 2022. Carroll, who suffers from schizoaffective disorder and had absconded from a secure hospital unit prior to the attack, was seen on CCTV chasing Mr. Thomas, stamping on his head with such force it was compared to a football penalty kick, causing severe brain injuries that led to Thomas's death weeks later. After the assault, Carroll was caught on CCTV cleaning blood from his shoes in a puddle and riding Mr. Thomas's bike. The court heard that Carroll had chosen to abandon his medication in favor of alcohol and drugs, contributing to the senseless and ferocious attack. The victim, who was well-known and described as caring by family, left a profound impact on his community, and his sister read a victim impact statement during the trial. Authorities emphasized their commitment to justice regardless of the victim's circumstances, highlighting the severity and cruelty of Carroll's actions.