Man Sentenced to Life for Friend’s Murder After Eyebrow Prank Escalates
Matthew Higgins will serve a minimum of 18 years for the fatal stabbing of David Eaton, following a series of alcohol-fueled confrontations stemming from a prank and personal disputes.
- Matthew Higgins, 36, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years for the murder of his friend, David Eaton, 37, in Northwich, Cheshire.
- The conflict began with Higgins shaving off Eaton’s eyebrow as a prank on September 27, 2024, which led to a series of escalating confrontations.
- Eaton physically attacked Higgins the next day, and during a later argument at Higgins’s home, Higgins fatally stabbed Eaton in what the court described as a 'red mist' of anger.
- Higgins’s claim of self-defense was rejected by the jury, who convicted him of murder after a two-and-a-half-week trial.
- The case highlights the tragic consequences of personal disputes and alcohol-fueled decisions, with the court condemning Higgins’s actions as vengeful and premeditated.
The Independent 
The Telegraph 