GPS Ankle Tag Evidence Secures Murder Convictions for West London Park Killing
Three men have been found guilty of murdering a teenager in a West London park, with crucial evidence from a GPS ankle tag placing them at the scene of the crime. Daniel Matos, 23, Keith Preddie, 34, and Joshua Cowley, 29, were convicted on Friday for the fatal stabbing of 19-year-old Tyler Donnelly in Feltham, west London.
Old Bailey Jury Delivers Verdict After Lengthy Deliberations
The Old Bailey jury in a retrial deliberated for 46 hours and 28 minutes before reaching their verdict. Members of Mr Donnelly's family sitting in court gasped and burst into tears as the guilty verdicts were delivered. The conviction marks the culmination of a complex investigation that relied heavily on digital tracking technology.
GPS Tracking Places Defendants at Crime Scene
The court heard that a GPS tag fitted to Matos enabled police to track his movements as he and the other two defendants cycled to Hanworth Park for the attack. Two of the men were armed with large knives when they arrived at the park on January 24, 2024. Mr Donnelly had also cycled to the location in his role as a runner for a local drug-dealing business operated from a phone number called the "John line."
Additional Forensic Evidence Strengthens Case
Beyond the GPS evidence, Matos's DNA was identified on an unlit cigarette found beside the body, and he had the victim's blood on the sleeve of his hoodie. Mr Donnelly's body was discovered the day after the attack in thick grass near his discarded bicycle. He was still carrying nearly 30 packages of heroin and crack cocaine along with £300 in cash.
Background of Drug Dealing and Targeted Attack
Prosecutor Julian Evans KC told the court that the killing occurred against the background of drug dealing and the "inherent" danger it poses. Shortly before the attack, two people had used the "John line" to order drugs and went to the park expecting to meet Mr Donnelly. Instead, they encountered Preddie, who one of them knew as "P," along with two other men in face coverings or balaclavas carrying knives.
The men appeared "hyped" and when asked to leave the park, the drug users complied. Minutes after the defendants cycled into the park, Mr Donnelly had set off from his home and was last seen alive at 9:12 PM. Despite carrying a large knife in a leather sheath tucked into his waistband, the weapon remained unused during the attack.
Sustained Attack and Aftermath
The "sustained and targeted" attack on Mr Donnelly lasted approximately five minutes and was not captured on camera or witnessed by anyone. The victim sustained multiple stab wounds, with a fatal injury to the neck. Following the attack, the defendants rode out of the park, with Matos changing his clothes at a friend's address and the other two going to Cowley's home.
Arrests and Legal Proceedings
All three defendants were arrested four days later and made no comment during police interviews. Matos, of Hounslow, Preddie, of Feltham, and Cowley, of Hounslow, had denied involvement in Mr Donnelly's death throughout the proceedings. After the guilty verdicts, Judge Mark Dennis KC remanded them into custody until their sentencing on March 17.
