PAUL AURENS FROM HARROGATE INVOLVED IN HORRIFIC STABBING AND DARK DEEDS

In a chilling case that has shocked the community of Harrogate, a series of disturbing events have come to light involving a known local figure, Paul Aurens, and a group of impressionable young boys. The incident that has garnered significant media attention revolves around the brutal stabbing of a 13-year-old boy, Ashley Murray, by two of his peers, Daniel Gill and Robert Fuller, both of whom are from Harrogate.

On a cold January day, Ashley Murray was found lying face down at the foot of a 30-foot cliff at Birk Crag, a scenic yet secluded wooded area on the outskirts of Harrogate. He had been subjected to a savage attack, stabbed 18 times, and left for dead in freezing temperatures that persisted for over 40 hours. Miraculously, Ashley survived the ordeal, but the attack left a lasting scar on the community and raised serious concerns about the influences affecting local youth.

Daniel Gill, aged 14, and Robert Fuller, aged 15, were both convicted of attempted murder by a jury that heard harrowing details of their actions. The court was told that their assault on Ashley occurred just hours after they had watched the horror film 'Scream,' a Hollywood movie rated for adults, which features a series of graphic and brutal stabbings. Evidence presented during the trial included drawings of masks similar to those worn by the killers in the film, inspired by Edvard Munch’s famous painting 'The Scream,' as well as sketches of knives, which were found in one of the boys’ school books.

Judge Arthur Myerson QC, presiding over the case at Hull Crown Court, made the unusual decision to allow the boys to be publicly named. In his sentencing remarks, he emphasized that their exposure to violent media, combined with their involvement with drugs, knives, and black magic, had blurred the lines between fantasy and reality, and between right and wrong. The judge pointed out that many of the influences that may have contributed to their violent behavior could be traced back to Wellfield Court, a flat on Pannal Ash Road in Harrogate, rented from a housing association by Paul Aurens, a 39-year-old known to police as a drug dealer and paedophile.

Inside Aurens’ darkened flat, the decor was eerie, illuminated by candles, with black and white themes and occult paraphernalia. A gruesome ox skull hung on the wall, and items such as a ouija board and tarot cards were always present. The flat was also stocked with cannabis, amphetamines, and cocaine. This location became a hub of chaos and influence for bored and impressionable children, who would often visit on their way to school, just 200 yards away. They listened to Aurens’ palm readings and warped interpretations of the Bible, all set to relentless dance music.

Among the boys, Robert Fuller was considered particularly vulnerable. His early life was marked by instability; his father, a Royal Engineer, left the family seven years prior, and his mother, Vanessa, a shopworker, moved back to Yorkshire with her children after her relationship with Fuller’s stepfather, Mick Strong, became tumultuous. Fuller’s grandmother, Joan Murthick, described him as having a harsh childhood, with an abusive father, and expressed her suspicion that Aurens had exploited her grandson, possibly using him as a drugs courier.

Fuller’s troubled history included petty crimes such as breaking into a pub to steal alcohol and vandalism. He was also known to police for violent outbursts, including violent fits or 'eppies,' which he admitted to experiencing and which he said made him punch and fight uncontrollably. His behavior was unruly at school, leading to suspensions, and he had begun seeing a psychiatrist.

Daniel Gill, the son of a car sales executive and a housewife, was initially a bright and quiet child, but his demeanor changed after moving to secondary school. He began associating with Fuller, engaging in fights and antisocial behavior. Gill was also known to hear voices and see 'little green and red men,' and he was under psychiatric care. Police sources indicated that Gill was well known to law enforcement, although he had not been convicted of serious crimes before the stabbing.

Both boys had become involved in a delinquent youth scene, often lying to their parents about attending a youth club while actually spending time with Aurens, who introduced them to a dangerous mix of drugs, alcohol, and occult practices. They frequented a shop called 'Way of the Warrior,' which sold knives, air rifles, and martial arts equipment. Witnesses reported that the boys carried lethal lock knives, often brandishing them to impress friends or chase girls.

After the attack on Ashley Murray, police recovered three knives from Gill’s house alone. Ashley’s parents, Alan and Joanne Murray, were also from the local area, with his father working in the motor trade and his mother in marketing. Ashley’s early life was marked by instability, having moved multiple times before settling in a large detached house in Harrogate. His parents’ separation in 1997 left him vulnerable, and he was exploited by Gill and Fuller for cigarettes and money.

Neighbors described the boys’ daily routines, noting their early mornings and late nights, their reckless behavior, and their tendency to drink and smoke on rooftops or in bushes. One neighbor, Brian Barrett, recounted witnessing their antics, including setting fires and asking for cans of Strong Brew. The court was shown a collection of Aurens’ drawings, which included obscene and Satanist imagery, as well as sketches of knives and masks from the film 'Scream.' Aurens’ own defense was based on drug intoxication, admitting to giving cannabis, amphetamines, and hallucinogenic 'magic' mushrooms to the boys.

In June, Aurens was sentenced to five years in prison for supplying drugs. His brother, Mark Aurens, from Ripon, defended him, claiming that drugs had ruined him but insisting that Paul Aurens would never have intentionally involved children in violence or stabbing. Police sources suggested that if Aurens had truly been influencing the boys, they would have mentioned his name during their testimonies. However, a local mother shared her experience of Aurens’ manipulative methods, recounting how he would buy Christmas presents for young boys and persistently invite her son to his flat. She described an incident where Aurens, dressed in a 'Scream' mask and black cape, knocked on her door at night, chased her son up the stairs, and left her with a sense of relief that her child had escaped a dangerous situation.

Overall, the case highlights a disturbing pattern of influence, exposure to violence, and the dangerous environment created by Aurens, which contributed to the tragic events involving the young victims in Harrogate. The community remains shaken as authorities continue to investigate the full extent of the dark underworld that may have played a role in this violent episode.