Anthony Ellis sentenced to life imprisonment with 15-year minimum term for murder
28 August 2025
Garden Court North’s Nina Grahame KC and Rosalind Burgin represented Mr Ellis at his sentencing in Manchester Crown Court (pictured). Credit: Stephen Richard / Creative Commons.
Mr Anthony Ellis was yesterday (27 August 2025) sentenced to life imprisonment with a 15-year minimum term after pleading guilty to the murder of Mr Igor Pavlov, 13 years after the initial incident.
Mr Ellis, represented by Garden Court North’s Nina Grahame KC and Rosalind Burgin, was previously imprisoned for causing grievous bodily harm Mr Pavlov in Whitworth Park, Manchester, in September 2012. He pleaded guilty to s18, wounding with intent, and was given an extended determinate sentence with a custodial period of 12.5 years in June 2013.
Pathologist evidence concluded that Mr Pavlov’s death in July 2023 was caused by the original injuries inflicted by Mr Ellis, over ten years earlier. Mr Ellis was still in custody.
To properly assess the question of causation, the defence team carried out an in-depth review of medical records, dating back over a decade. This required complex and specialist expert reports from experienced pathologists.
Judge HHJ Goddard agreed that the time Mr Ellis has already served and spent on remand will be deducted from the minimum term, leaving him with approximately two-and-a-half years to serve before he can be considered for release by the Parole Board.
The Year and a Day Rule
Historically, a Defendant could only be prosecuted for murder if the victim died within one year and one day of a person’s act or omission which is alleged to have been the cause. This is known as the ‘Year and a Day Rule’.
Since the Law Reform (Year and a Day Rule) Act 1996, the Attorney General’s consent is required for any prosecution in which it is alleged that the death occurred more than three years after the causative act, or when the offender has previously been convicted of an offence in connection with the death.
It was passed in line with advances in forensic medicine and life support technology which could extend the interval between the act and subsequent death.
Nina and Rosalind were instructed by Amanda Long of Robert Lizar Solicitors.
Additional media
Manchester Evening News – How a man was pinned for murdering stranger 13 years after brutal attack in park
Crown Prosecution Service – Updated with sentence – Dangerous offender, previously jailed for assaulting homeless man, now jailed for life for his murder
BBC News – Attacker admits murdering man who died years later
For further information, please contact Alex Blair, Communications Manager at Garden Court North Chambers: ablair@gcnchambers.co.uk
