GPS Ankle Tag Provides Crucial Evidence in Teenager's Murder Trial
Three men have been found guilty of murdering a teenager in a West London park, with police using a GPS ankle tag to track one defendant directly to the scene of the crime. The conviction came after a retrial at the Old Bailey, where jurors deliberated for over 46 hours before reaching their verdict.
Tracking the Defendants to the Crime Scene
The court heard that Daniel Matos, 23, was wearing a GPS ankle tag that allowed officers to monitor his movements as he and co-defendants Keith Preddie, 34, and Joshua Cowley, 29, cycled to Hanworth Park. Prosecutors stated that two of the men were allegedly armed with large knives when they arrived at the location.
Nineteen-year-old Tyler Donnelly had cycled to the same park on January 24, 2024, in his capacity as a runner for a local drug-dealing operation connected to a phone number known as the "John line." Instead of meeting customers as expected, he was attacked and fatally stabbed in the neck during what the prosecution described as a "sustained and targeted" assault lasting approximately five minutes.
Evidence Linking Defendants to the Murder
Forensic evidence presented at trial proved damning for the defendants. Matos's DNA was discovered on an unlit cigarette found beside Donnelly's body, and the victim's blood was identified on the sleeve of Matos's hoodie. The GPS tracking data from Matos's ankle tag placed him at the park during the precise timeframe of the murder.
Donnelly's body was discovered the following day in thick grass near his abandoned bicycle. He was still carrying nearly 30 packages of heroin and crack cocaine along with £300 in cash at the time of his death. The victim had been armed with a large knife in a leather sheath tucked into his waistband, though this weapon remained unused during the attack.
Background of Drug Dealing and Violence
Prosecutor Julian Evans KC told the court that the killing occurred against a backdrop of drug dealing and the "inherent" dangers associated with such criminal activity. Shortly before the murder, two individuals had used the "John line" to order drugs and traveled to the park expecting to meet Donnelly.
Instead, they encountered Preddie, whom one of them knew as "P," accompanied by two other men wearing face coverings or balaclavas and carrying knives. The witnesses described the men as appearing "hyped" and complied when instructed to leave the park area.
Aftermath and Investigation
Following the attack, the defendants rode their bicycles out of the park. Matos changed his clothes at a friend's address, while Preddie and Cowley went to Cowley's home. All three men were arrested four days later and declined to comment during police interviews.
Despite denying any involvement in Donnelly's death throughout the proceedings, Matos of Hounslow, Preddie of Feltham, and Cowley of Hounslow were all found guilty of murder. Judge Mark Dennis KC remanded them into custody following the verdicts, with sentencing scheduled for March 17.
Police Response and Community Impact
Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie of the Metropolitan Police expressed his condolences to Donnelly's family, stating: "My thoughts and those of my team remain with the family of Tyler, who have all been deeply affected by the senseless violence that night. Tyler's family have had to sit in court and listen to every harrowing detail of how he was stabbed and left to die alone."
He added: "Each of the defendants had their role to play and committed acts of horrific violence. My team worked tirelessly over many months, painstakingly gathering evidence to ensure that the three men were brought to justice. This case also shows the devastating impact that drugs have on our communities and the link with serious violence. It's why we're so committed to tackling drugs supply, which we know rips families like Tyler's apart."
Members of Donnelly's family gasped and burst into tears in court as the guilty verdicts were delivered, bringing some measure of closure to a tragic case that highlighted both the dangers of drug-related violence and the investigative value of electronic monitoring technology.
