Two men jailed for the brutal murder of Warren Burns

Today (Tuesday 19 December), following an investigation by Greater Manchester Police’s Major Incident Team, Ryan White (14/11/94) of Valetta Close, and Damian White (28/11/89) of Woodham Road have been sentenced to a total of 28 years for the murder of Warren Burns. 

Ryan White was found guilty of murder and was jailed for life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years.

Damian White was found guilty of manslaughter and was jailed for 11 years.

The investigation was launched after Warren was seriously assaulted at an address on Heysham Avenue in Withington on Sunday 21 May 2023. He tragically passed away in hospital three days after the assault due to the catastrophic injuries that had been inflicted upon him. 

Greater Manchester Police received an urgent 999 call when the assault was taking place after a group of men entered the house uninvited. Warren’s partner and his ten week old baby son were also inside the house at the time.

Patrols arrived shortly after and found Warren in an upstairs bedroom. He was unconscious, he wasn't breathing, and he had severe facial injuries. Officers and paramedics performed CPR and Warren was rushed to hospital where he was placed into an induced coma. Despite the best efforts of the medical staff at Salford Royal Hospital, Warren sadly never recovered and passed away on Wednesday 24 May 2023.

In the early stages of the investigation it became apparent that the attack was targeted and premeditated and that Ryan White and Damian White had held a grudge towards Warren for a number of years. In 2018 Warren had been on a night out with friends when Noel White (Ryan White’s brother) was killed. The man accused of murdering Noel was acquitted following a trial. The White family cut ties with Warren after this because they were unhappy with the content of his witness account, which in their minds, had contributed to the man being found not guilty.

On Saturday 20 May this year (2023), a verbal altercation took place between members of the White family and members of Warren’s family at a festival at Platt Fields Park in Fallowfield. This was the catalyst which caused Ryan White and Damian White to go to Heysham Avenue looking for Warren. 

CCTV enquiries established that two vehicles had been used by the men to travel to and from Heysham Avenue. The men were quickly identified and arrested and enquiries revealed that a number of calls were made between them before and after the attack on Warren which showed their planning and participation. Cell site evidence placed them in the vicinity of Heysham Avenue at the time of the assault.

The two vehicles used by the men were recovered by the police. The men also disposed of mobile phones, clothing and footwear and fled to Oldham and Stoke in an attempt to avoid apprehension. 

Forensic examination of the house on Heysham Avenue determined that Warren had been subjected to a violent and sustained attack where he was punched, kicked to the head, and stamped on.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Louise Edwards of GMP’s Major Incident Team said; “Warren had just welcomed his second child and was about to embark on life as a father of two. His life was cruelly taken away from him in a senseless act of sickening and unprovoked violence which happened in his partner’s home. Ryan White and Damian White went to Heysham Avenue to seek what they saw as revenge. They brutally assaulted Warren while his partner and baby son were in the house. Since their arrest, they have shown no regard for anybody other than themselves. 

"I would like to thank Warren’s family, and in particular his partner, for their courage throughout this investigation. This tragic ordeal will be everlasting for them and my thoughts remain with them.

"I would also like to pay tribute to the witnesses who have assisted Greater Manchester Police in this investigation, and to the investigation team whose hard work helped secure convictions and sentences in this case”.

The family of Warren wanted to pay tribute to him and said the following:

“Warren was a much-loved son, brother, partner and father. He was a gentle giant with the biggest heart and gentle soul. He was fun-loving and outgoing, and always stood out as the life and soul of the party. Even though Warren has been taken away so cruelly from us, he will remain in our hearts forever and will not be forgotten. Our treasured memories of him are the only things that provide us with comfort.

"Warren’s life wasn’t the only life destroyed on the 21^st May 2023. As a family, we are heartbroken and traumatised and cannot come to terms with why Warren died in such a violent and senseless way. Since May, our world has completely changed and is a much sadder place. There are no words that can express how Warren's death has impacted upon our lives. Warren’s two children have lost their father and their lives have been changed forever. Warren’s life has been stolen from him and he will not be here to watch his children grow up and experience life. His son will grow up having never known his dad which is truly devastating. The grief and pain we have all felt since Warren died has been unbearable and we all miss him so much.

The sentences imposed on Ryan White and Damian White will not bring Warren back or make our loss any easier, although we are happy that they can’t hurt anybody else. We will never forget Warren and the memories he has given us.”