The girlfriend of a man allegedly murdered by her brother told jurors there were no issues between them on the night of the fatal stabbing. Anthony Junior Murray, 25, denies murdering 23-year-old Joe Burton in Bury. Prosecutors allege a mix of 'intoxication, lateness of the hour' and tensions between their two families preceded the incident.
Relationship Background
On Monday, Kayleigh Murray – sister of the defendant and partner of the victim – told Minshull Street Crown Court she had been in an 'on-and-off' relationship with Joe Burton since she was 13. Asked to describe how she felt about Mr Burton, she wept as she said: 'He was a blessing in my life.' She described the relationship as 'intense' and 'touch and go', depending on 'how drunk' they were. 'His attitude changed sometimes,' Ms Murray said.
By 2023 they were living together in a flat. Ms Murray said they were drinking 'quite a lot' before Mr Burton stopped and instead 'smoked weed'. 'It didn't sit well with him,' she said. 'When I was drunk, it made me quite giddy. Joe's attitude changed when he was drunk. Sometimes he could be nice, sometimes not nice.'
Previous Family Altercation
The court heard that around Christmas 2024 there was an altercation between Mr Burton and Kayleigh's brother, Callum Murray, and father, Anthony Murray Snr. Kelly Murray, the defendant's mother, died in 2023. The court heard Mr Murray Snr did not speak to Mr Burton after that, but had some contact with Ms Murray. Ms Murray said it began over Mr Burton swearing in front of her mother's urn and ended with Callum and Mr Murray Snr being arrested. Mr Burton also went to hospital.
Asked about the defendant's attitude towards Mr Burton, she said: 'They used to play football.' She described his attitude in the run-up to New Year's Eve 2025 as 'fine', stating: 'There were no issues.'
Night of the Incident
Ms Murray said that on the evening of December 21, 2025, she was not aware Mr Burton or Mr Murray took drugs. She denied taking drugs that night. She said she drank four cans of Stella Artois and a 'couple of capfuls of Jack Daniels'. 'I was struggling to walk, I was a bit unstable,' she told the court. She saw a couple of bags of 'white powder' at the flat – one in front of Wah Tun, a friend of Mr Murray, and another in Mr Murray's pocket. Ms Murray accepted Mr Burton had used cocaine in the past, but she did not know if he had any that night.
'I don't remember there being a problem, there was never a problem when I was there,' she added. 'Everybody was happy.' At some point she said she wanted to leave and asked Mr Burton to leave with her as Mr Tun was making her feel 'uncomfortable'. 'He was making me feel a bit sceptical,' she said. 'He was fist bumping Anthony every five seconds. I didn't feel it was necessary.'
Departure and Aftermath
Ms Murray said Mr Burton wanted to stay, so she left and walked down Dumers Lane, Radcliffe, where a passerby called 999 out of concern for her welfare. Asked if she remembered a disagreement in the bedroom, she said: 'I just remember wanting to leave and wanting Joe to come with me.' The court heard Ms Murray was taken to Fairfield Hospital and was arrested.
In cross-examination by Mr Murray's barrister, Bernard Richmond KC, he asked: 'Your family were telling you again and again to get away from Joe, weren't they?' 'I don't know,' Ms Murray replied. 'When the passerby saw you, she said you were crying. What were you crying about?' 'I don't know,' she said. 'Was it because Joe was being absolutely horrible to you?' 'No,' she said.
Defence Position
Bernard Richmond KC, defending Mr Murray, previously said there would be 'no dispute' that Mr Murray 'was the person who stabbed' Mr Burton and that the stabbing caused his death. 'What is going to be in dispute is why.' The stabbing was captured on a camera designed to monitor Mr Murray's two dogs, described as a 'remarkable stroke of luck'. Mr Murray, of Tarn Drive, Bury, denies murder. The trial continues.
