Two men plead guilty to murdering Ryan Burton

Two men accused of the killing of Ryan Burton in Kettering, have today (Friday, November 14) pleaded guilty to murder at Northampton Crown Court in the middle of their trial.

Ryan was seriously assaulted in Spring Rise Park on Kettering’s Highfield Estate shortly before 7pm on Friday, January 10. He sadly died at University Hospital Coventry six days later after he contracted sepsis due to the severity of his injuries.

Keiton Underwood and Ace Hill have been on trial since the beginning of October, along with four other defendants who continue to deny the murder of 34-year-old Ryan.

However, after taking to the stand during the trial, which is now in its eighth week, 20-year-old Underwood admitted murdering Ryan and committing a separate offence of robbery on the same evening.

Both the murder and robbery charges were read to him again, and this time he pleaded guilty. In a dramatic turn of events, the jury were asked by the judge to return a guilty verdict, which they did.

Then 19-year-old Hill followed suit and admitted his role in the murder of Ryan and again, the jury were asked to return a guilty verdict.

Hill, of Minden Close, Corby, and Underwood, of Bridge Street, Desborough, will be sentenced at Northampton Crown Court on December 22.

The trial will continue for the four remaining defendants on Monday (November 17). They are:

• Cameron Williams-Ferguson, aged 24, of High Street, Kettering
• Connor White, aged 25, of Spencer Street, Rothwell
• Kyle Derek McSkimming, aged 23, of Pen Green Lane, Corby
• and a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named due to legal reasons.