The shocking true story behind Channel 4’s The Jury: 14 and on Trial for Murder
Channel 4’s The Jury is based on a true story(Image: Channel 4)
The Jury is based on the shocking real-life case of brothers Jerome and Joshua Ellis, who were teenagers when they were accused of killing their stepfather.
Jerome Ellis was just 14 when he and his older brother Joshua stood trial following the killing of their stepfather, Neil Tulley, at the family home in Guildford, Surrey.
The Channel 4 hit series recreates the brothers’ trial using actors. For the programme, their names have been changed to Daniel and Luke. But what happened in the real case — and where are Jerome and Joshua Ellis now?
The real case behind The Jury: 14 and on Trial for Murder
In 2013, Jerome, then 14, and Joshua, 23, were convicted following the death of their 54-year-old stepfather, Neil Tulley. Neil had been living with the brothers, their mother and other family members at their home in Cedar Way, Guildford.
During the trial, the court heard that Neil was asleep, or almost asleep, on the sofa when the attack began.
The brothers armed themselves with kitchen knives and attacked him, causing 65 separate areas of injury. Some of the wounds were described in court as severe injuries to the neck.
After Neil’s death, the brothers fled the house and went into hiding. They were eventually found by a bellringer, who discovered them hiding in a porch.
Both brothers admitted they had been involved in Neil’s death but denied that they were guilty of murder. Their defence centred on what they described as years of violence, threats and fear within the family home.
The court heard claims that Neil had previously threatened to kill Joshua and had attacked him with an axe. He was arrested and charged with making threats to kill, but was later found not guilty by a jury.
The brothers said they had been frightened about what Neil might do to them, their mother and their siblings. However, prosecutors argued that the killing could not be considered self-defence because Neil was asleep when the attack took place.
The prosecution claimed the brothers had carried out a deliberate act of revenge. The defence, meanwhile, argued that the brothers had endured such difficult circumstances that they had eventually reached breaking point.
What happened to Jerome Ellis?
The jury took Jerome’s age and the circumstances he had experienced into account. He was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter on the grounds of loss of control.
Jerome was later sentenced to six years in detention at Guildford Crown Court. He has since been released. Little is known about Jerome’s life since his release, and he is understood to have kept away from the public spotlight.
What happened to Joshua Ellis?
Joshua received a very different verdict from his younger brother. He was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, with the judge ordering that he serve a minimum of 14 years.
Outside court, Detective Chief Inspector Mark Preston said the sentence reflected the seriousness of the crime. He said: “The sentence today reflects the severity of the crime and it is never an easy decision for the judge or jury to make with such emotive events to be considered.”
You can stream the new season of The Jury on Channel 4
