Thug who led 'counter attack' which culminated in the murder of dad-to-be Charlie Elms is jailed

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A thug who led a 'counter attack' which culminated in the murder of a young dad-to-be in the street has been locked up.

Melvin Whelan, 39, burst out of a house and launched a bottle of beer towards a gang, who had attacked a house.

Minutes later, Charlie Elms, 25, was stabbed to death by 17-year-old Karl Marler.

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The explosion of violence in Oldham came after an 'utterly pointless' feud between two rival groups.

A tit-for-tat dispute came to a head on May 26, when Charlie and five other men arrived in the town's Limeside estate.

Charlie was armed with a machete, and others also had weapons.

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Shocking footage shows the gang attack a house, with one hacking at the front door with a machete.

A scooter was also thrown at the property.

Whelan can then be seen emerging from the house, wearing a navy blue T-shirt, throwing a bottle of beer towards the attackers before charging towards a car and kicking it.

Marler, who would go on to knife Charlie to death, also emerged, wearing a camouflage jacket.

The gang retreated to the blue Vauxhall Corsa they arrived in.

Four of Charlie's group were able to flee in the Corsa, leaving Charlie and another man called Josh Newport behind.

Marler then chased Charlie and Newport down the street.

Newport was able to get away, but Charlie slipped as he ran for his life.

Moments later, Marler plunged a