Brian Waters' family issue statement as murderer convicted

Mr Waters died aged 44 after being subjected to a brutal torture ordeal in front of his own children at Burnt House Farm in Tabley in 2003.

Christopher Guest More Jnr, from Lymm, was today found guilty of his murder by a majority jury at Chester Crown Court.

Following the now 43-year-old’s conviction, the deceased’s family issued a statement saying that they still suffer from ‘constant flashbacks’ of the harrowing events.

They also say that the verdict ‘marks the end of an incredibly painful journey’.

The statement in full read: “We are delighted with the guilty verdict and pleased that Christopher Guest More Jnr is finally facing justice for his part in the horrific murder of a loving husband and father.

“We would like to thank detectives from Cheshire Police, the prosecution team and everyone else involved in the case for all of their hard work and tireless and extensive investigations – which now span more than 18 years.

“We would also like to extend our thanks to the family liaison officers for their help, advice and support over the years.

“What happened at Burnt House Farm on June 19 2003 has had a significant and long-lasting effect on our family.

“We will never be able to forget events of that day and, even now more than 18 years down the line, we feel the pain on a daily basis with constant flashbacks.

“We have remained a close-knit family and have provided much-needed support to each other – but this has been an isolating experience for us and not only have we lived in fear of reprisals, we have also struggled to trust others as we normally would.

“It’s similar to the feelings people have experienced in the current Covid crisis – not being able to leave their home and having to stay inside to feel safe.

“We have been living like that for more than 18 years.

“But we never gave up hope, and the verdict today marks the end of an incredibly painful journey in our lives.

“We would now ask that our privacy is respected and we are left alone as a family as we try and move forward with the next chapter of our lives.”

More, formerly of Burford Lane Farm, will be sentenced before the same court tomorrow, Friday.

Detective inspector Kate Tomlinson, who led the murder investigation, said this afternoon: “Today, Christopher Guest More Jr has finally been found guilty of his part in the brutal murder of Brian Waters at Burnt House Farm on June 19 2003.

"He fled the UK two days after the incident and stole another man’s identity in a bid to evade justice.  We never gave up hope of finding him over the years and the guilty verdict marks a significant point in a long and painful road for all those involved.

“The level of violence used against the victims in this case was absolutely shocking.

"As police officers we are used to dealing with violent crime, but the barbaric nature of this attack is something that you never forget.

"When you look at what happened at the farm that day and what those men did, it feels like something you only ever see in the movies.

"It doesn’t feel like something that could ever happen in real life – let alone in rural Cheshire.”

The National Crime Agency's director of investigations Nikki Holland added: "We are utterly delighted that, after very many years of cheating justice, Guest More Jnr is in prison where he belongs for a long time.

"The NCA and Cheshire Police worked quietly, hand-in-hand behind the scenes, for all those years developing strategies and pursuing leads to find him. 

"The agency’s investigators and international liaison officer network were instrumental in tracing and identifying Guest More Jnr to Malta.

"We used a range of specialist capabilities – which we lead for the benefit of all UK law enforcement – to pinpoint Guest More Jnr, where our Maltese partners arrested him.

"We were never going to give up the hunt to catch him.

"Other fugitives should remember that and ask themselves if it’s worth living a life looking over their shoulder."