'My brother was murdered by his friend - I knew he was going to do it'

A woman, whose brother was brutally murdered has spoken of her relief as his killer was finally jailed. Matthew Jones stabbed his friend, 39-year-old William Phelan, to death in a horrifying attack that left his family devastated.

He was sentenced following a six-year-long battle for justice by the Phelan family. But, Mel, Will's sister, has revealed that her grieving mother, Linda, 73, died before she could witness justice being served for her son.

Mel criticised the lack of mental health support available for her brother, believing that if it had been adequate, Will might still be alive today. She also spoke a chilling encounter with Jones several months prior to the murder, during which she asked him to leave her house.

READ MORE: 'Your gut feeling kept saying something isn't right, there's a dark side to him - I was right'

Mel, 41, said: "The last six years have been very tough for me and my family, losing Will and then Mum too. We knew Will was ill and we wanted to help, but it felt as though the system was working against us, not with us.

"Mum did her best to support him, but the system did not support her. In the end, she died from cancer, before the second trial. But it's my belief she died from a broken heart."

Will was one of eight children, raised in Gorton, Manchester, by their mother, Linda.

"Will was a lovely little boy, smiley and popular," Mel said. "He loved bikes and cars, he was forever taking bikes apart and fixing them.

"He had a passion for music too and he played piano. He was only three years older than me and we were very close."

After leaving school, Will worked in factories, but aged 22, he suffered a mental health breakdown.

"He became anxious and withdrawn, he'd pace up and down and was very agitated. He was still living at home and Mum was back and forth to the GP with him," Mel said.

Will was eventually diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and prescribed medication.

Mum of four Mel said: "When he was taking his medication, he was okay. But if he missed his injection, he could spiral very quickly. He'd tell me I wasn't his sister, and he became paranoid that people were coming to get him.

"He was very scared and vulnerable. I lived across the road from mum and saw Will most days. We had no experience of mental health illness but did our best to support him."

At 28, Will moved into his own flat but could not cope living independently. "He was really pleased because he thought he was making lots of friends," Mel said. "But it turned out people who were taking advantage of him. He was missing his medication and not looking after himself properly."

Seven years on, Will was sectioned and remained on a mental health ward. "We all visited and mum had asked the staff if they could keep her updated. Will was allowed a visit home in April 2017, and I invited him to my son's birthday," she said.

"He turned up with a scary-looking man who really unsettled me. I asked Will to take him away. I didn't want him in my house. That man was Matthew Jones who would go on to murder my brother."

In October 2017, Will was discharged from hospital, but his family had no idea of his whereabouts. Mel added: "Will wasn't capable of looking after himself on his own. He'd always had lots of family support.

"We managed to talk to Will on the phone, and he kept saying he'd text his address, but never did. Christmas was always a big deal, we all gathered at mum's, and we had lots of presents waiting for Will. When he didn't show up, we really started to panic.

"We couldn't get hold of him, and had no idea where he was living. He didn't turn up for our annual New Year's Eve party either, which was another red flag. We contacted his care worker again and asked for help."

On January 23, Will turned up at the family home, Mel said, adding: "We were thrilled to see him. Mum was understandably furious, asking him why he'd not been in touch. She gave him all his Christmas gifts and money.

"He had a black eye; he'd lost weight and seemed anxious. I was worried about him. He told us he'd been with his mate, Matthew Jones, who he'd met in hospital three years earlier.

"As Will left, I suddenly had a horrible thought that I might never see him again. It was a premonition," Mel said.

Two weeks later, with no more news, Will's family reported him missing to police. They ran appeals on social media, desperate to find him.

When he did not come home on Mother's Day, on March 11, 2018, they feared the worst and pleaded with police to intervene.

Mel said: "The police told us a man claiming to be Will's brother had answered the door at his flat and instantly we knew something was wrong."

When police broke down Will's door, in March 2018, they found his mutilated body. It's believed he was murdered around January 30, 2018.

His heartbroken family had to wait a further two months before he could be cremated. It was not until his address was printed in the media that they finally found where he lived.

Jones stood trial in January 2021 and was convicted of murder. This was later quashed by the Court of Appeal following a comment made by the judge to the jury.

At a retrial earlier this month, Jones was jailed at Manchester Crown Court for a minimum of 15 years and 82 days.

Mel, who works for a betting firm, said: "I attended all the hearings, I didn't miss a single day. I used all my holidays up at work.

"Mum just seemed to give up after Will was murdered, and when Jones appealed his conviction, she was devastated.

"She was diagnosed with lung cancer in November 2022 and passed away two weeks later. I have no doubt that losing Will broke her heart and contributed to her death.

"It is sad that she never saw justice. But it is a big relief for us all that Matthew Jones is locked away and people are safe from him. Will was a gentle, peaceful man and the violence of his death will haunt me forever."

Mel added: "It's a comfort that Will and mum are together now, and she can finally look after him once again. That was all she ever wanted."

Detective Chief Inspector Nicola McCulloch, of GMP's Major Incident Team, said: "This has been a traumatic six years for William's family, who have not only had to suffer such an inconceivable loss, but also patiently wait for justice.

"They have shown such tremendous bravery and dignity throughout and I hope that today's verdict offers them some closure on the worst time of their lives.

"This was a tragic case where a man murdered someone who was supposed to be his friend and left their loves ones with such insufferable consequences.

"This investigation by its nature has had delays and setbacks but our dedicated team have ensured throughout that no stone has been left unturned and that justice is ultimately delivered for the family and loved ones of William, who will never be forgotten."