A MAN has been jailed for murdering a defenceless man who he attacked as he slept in his bed.
Timothy Walker appeared before Belfast Crown Court today (March 11) for the murder of Denis Shearer in Bangor, Co. Down.
Denis Shearer was violently attacked as he slept in his bedMr Shearer, 25, was asleep in his bedroom when Walker entered his home in the early hours of February 28, 2021 and violently attacked him as he lay in his bed.
Walker then fled the scene heading to north Belfast before setting fire to his vehicle in an attempt to destroy evidence.
His partner Natalie Brannigan assisted him after the attack by driving to north Belfast to pick him up from the scene of the vehicle fire before driving to Newtownards in an attempt to avoid arrest.
Mr Shearer was rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, where he passed away nine days later on March 9.
Walker, 43, who is currently of HMP Maghaberry and originally from Abbey Ring in Holywood, was sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2024 after admitting Mr Shearer’s murder.
Today he was told he will serve a minimum tariff of 15 years for the murder.
Brannigan, who had previously admitted a charge of assisting offenders, was also sentenced today.
Mr Shearer's family members, Detective Inspector Rachel Switzer and Detective Chief Inspector Neil McGuinness pictured outside the court todayThe 42-year-old, of The Green in Holyrood, was sentenced to two years in prison suspended for two years.
“Timothy Walker broke into Denis Shearer’s home in the early hours of February 28, 2021,” Detective Chief Inspector Neil McGuinness, from the PSNI’s Major Investigation Team, said today.
“He attacked Denis as he lay defenceless in his bed, striking him repeatedly about the head with a weapon he brought to the family home,” he added.
“Mr Shearer was taken to hospital, where he sadly died nine days later in hospital. He never regained consciousness after the callous attack.
"When Timothy Walker sought to destroy evidence by burning his car in North Belfast he called upon the assistance of his partner Natalie Brannigan to ferry him from the scene.
“Denis’ foster parents had been asleep in the home and they found him bleeding and unconscious and contacted police.
"His foster father has since passed away and his foster mother has been left heartbroken and traumatised as a result of Timothy Walkers brutality within their home robbing them of a beloved son.
"Denis' birth mother has also suffered the devastating effects of Timothy Walkers violence and her loss is profoundly felt.
“There is absolutely no doubt that this was the senseless loss of a young life.
“My thoughts remain with Dennis’ loved ones, and I can only hope that today's sentencing will bring them some comfort as they continue to try to come to terms with their grief.”
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