Huw Owen is in prison for the murder of Julian Hargreaves, a well-known and well-liked man from the North Yorkshire village of Staithes. Owen attacked Julian in a brutal and sustained assault at Julian’s home in March 2024, then fled the scene — going on the run before eventually being traced. He was convicted of murder at Leeds Crown Court in February 2026 and sentenced on 23 March 2026 to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years.

Who is Huw Owen?

Huw Owen, aged 42 at the time of sentencing, is from Cornucopia Close in Norton, North Yorkshire. He became the subject of a murder investigation following an attack on Julian Hargreaves in Staithes on the evening of 13 March 2024. After the assault, Owen fled the scene and evaded police for a period before being located and arrested. He was charged with the murder of Julian Hargreaves and appeared before Leeds Crown Court for trial.

Owen was known to Julian Hargreaves and the attack was not the result of a random encounter. The prosecution case at trial was that Owen deliberately targeted Julian and carried out an attack described by the court as “verging on torture” in its ferocity and deliberateness.

The Murder of Julian Hargreaves

Julian Hargreaves was a resident of Staithes, a picturesque fishing village on the North Yorkshire coast. He was well known and well liked within the local community. On the evening of 13 March 2024, Owen went to Julian’s home and subjected him to a ferocious assault, striking him repeatedly and hitting him over the head with a lamp. After the attack, Owen left Julian on the floor of his own home and fled the scene.

Julian was found by his brother the following morning — approximately 14 hours after the attack — lying on the floor, having been left there throughout the night. He had two black eyes and other visible injuries and was taken to hospital in a serious condition. Although medical professionals worked to save him, Julian suffered catastrophic injuries and passed away on 4 April 2024 — three weeks after the attack. The court heard that despite Julian’s pre-existing medical vulnerabilities, medical experts established a direct and substantial link between the trauma he suffered and his death.

Huw Owen’s Flight From Justice

After the attack on Julian Hargreaves, Huw Owen went on the run. He was classified as a fugitive and the subject of a police manhunt before eventually being located and arrested. The fact that Owen fled the scene and attempted to evade justice was noted as an aggravating feature in the prosecution of the case. His flight also meant that Julian’s family endured a period of uncertainty while Owen remained at large.

Owen was ultimately charged with the murder of Julian Hargreaves and remanded in custody to await trial. He entered a not guilty plea, and the case proceeded to a full jury trial at Leeds Crown Court.

Trial and Conviction

At Leeds Crown Court, Huw Owen was tried for the murder of Julian Hargreaves. The jury heard extensive evidence about the nature of the attack, the injuries sustained by Julian, the medical evidence linking the assault to his death, and Owen’s behaviour before and after the attack. On 20 February 2026, the jury found Owen guilty of murder. His co-accused, who had also been charged in relation to the death of Julian Hargreaves, was found not guilty at the same trial.

The verdict was welcomed by Julian’s family and by North Yorkshire Police, who praised the family’s courage throughout what had been a lengthy and painful process from the night of the attack in March 2024 to the verdict in February 2026 — almost two years later. North Yorkshire Police described Julian as a well-known and liked individual whose death had had a significant impact on the close-knit community of Staithes.

The Sentence

On 23 March 2026 at Leeds Crown Court, Huw Owen was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years and 110 days. He will not be eligible for consideration by the Parole Board until he has served that minimum period. Even at that point, release is not guaranteed — the Parole Board must be satisfied that Owen no longer poses a risk to the public before any release can take place.

The sentencing judge took into account the severity of the attack, Owen’s flight from justice, the prolonged suffering of Julian and the impact on his family, and the distress caused to the community of Staithes. North Yorkshire Police expressed their satisfaction with the outcome and reiterated their commitment to investigating violent crime and bringing perpetrators to justice wherever they fled. For families of those in custody, information about booking a prison visit, sending money to a prisoner, and understanding life sentences is available on this site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Huw Owen in prison?

Huw Owen is in prison for the murder of Julian Hargreaves, a man from Staithes, North Yorkshire. Owen attacked Julian at his home on 13 March 2024 in a sustained and ferocious assault, then fled the scene. Julian was found by his brother the following day and died on 4 April 2024. Owen was convicted of murder at Leeds Crown Court on 20 February 2026 and sentenced to life with a minimum of 16 years on 23 March 2026.

Who was Julian Hargreaves?

Julian Hargreaves was a well-known and well-liked resident of Staithes, a coastal village in North Yorkshire. He was found with severe head injuries at his home by his brother on 14 March 2024, approximately 14 hours after the attack. He was taken to hospital but died three weeks later on 4 April 2024 from the injuries inflicted during the assault by Huw Owen.

Did Huw Owen go on the run after the murder?

Yes. After attacking Julian Hargreaves, Huw Owen fled the scene and went on the run, becoming the subject of a police manhunt. He was eventually located and arrested. His flight from justice was noted as an aggravating factor in the case and added to the ordeal experienced by Julian’s family during the period Owen remained at large.

What sentence did Huw Owen receive?

Huw Owen was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years and 110 days at Leeds Crown Court on 23 March 2026. He must serve this minimum period before he is eligible to be considered for release by the Parole Board. Release is not automatic at that point and requires a Parole Board determination that he no longer poses a risk to the public.

Where is Staithes and why was the case notable?

Staithes is a small and historic fishing village on the North Yorkshire coast, close to Whitby. The village has a close-knit community and the death of Julian Hargreaves — who was well known in the area — had a significant impact locally. The case attracted regional and national attention due to the circumstances of the attack, Owen’s flight from justice, and the length of time between the original assault and the eventual murder conviction in February 2026.