Two burglars have been convicted of manslaughter for the death of a fellow-intruder after a botched raid on a static caravan in Nottinghamshire.

Mason Meanwell, 25, and David McCandless, 44, were part of a group of four who attacked the caravan on industrial premises in Tuxford. They believed the occupant was keeping a substantial amount of cash and valuables.

Clad in masks and balaclavas and each carrying a weapon, they raided the caravan under the cover of darkness. They attacked the occupant of the caravan, demanding the money they thought he had concealed inside. The occupant resisted forcibly and during the chaos that followed, one of the attackers, Taylor Green, was fatally injured. The group, recognising their attack had failed, fled, empty-handed. Taylor Green only made it a short distance before he collapsed, still in possession of the axe he had taken to the attack.

The Crown Prosecution Service were involved in the investigation from an early stage, offering early advice to the police and helping identify potential lines of enquiry. Meanwell and McCandless were charged with manslaughter on the basis that they had committed an unlawful act in planning and carrying out the burglary that resulted in the death of Taylor Green.

Both were convicted by a jury at Nottingham Crown Court after a three-week trial in April 2026. They were sentenced on 3 July to 12 years, 6 months each.

The householder was not charged with any criminal offences for the death of Mr Green as he was protecting himself, his partner and his property.

Janine McKinney from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “These defendants planned this attack and went armed and ready for violence. The prosecution’s case was that without their actions and their agreement to carry out this attack, Taylor Green’s death would not have happened.

“These defendants knew their actions would be harmful. They acted out of greed on a false premise of making easy money through violence. Their friend lost his life as a result. Our thoughts and sincere sympathies are with the family and loved ones of Taylor Green.”

The fourth member of the group has not been identified.

A further defendant is due to face trial for assisting an offender.
 

Building the case: Manslaughter and self-defence

Manslaughter includes causing a death as a result of committing an unlawful act. In this instance, the defendants careful planning and execution of an armed attack on the static caravan in the knowledge that it was likely to be occupied was the unlawful act, even though Taylor Green was a participant.

Manslaughter also requires prosecutors to prove that the defendants knew or could reasonably foresee that their actions could result in some harm being caused. The prosecution’s case was that by agreeing to take part in the raid, arming themselves and preparing to use violence, these defendants knew they would be causing harm.  

The householder was not charged in relation to the death of Taylor Green because the actions he took were to defend himself, his partner and his property from four intruders, armed and masked, who forcibly broke into his home in the middle of the night.

Mason Meanwell was identified as one of the people involved. He admitted his involvement and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary. During the trial, his defence submitted that there was no case of manslaughter to answer, but this submission was unsuccessful.

David McCandless claimed that he had not been involved in the attack. The prosecution had to prove that he had taken part in the attack and had been involved in the planning.

Evidence from McCandless’s phone showed he had been in regular contact with Meanwell and Taylor Green prior to the attack. Phone contact ceased just before the attack and resumed with a 15-minute call to Meanwell immediately afterwards. This was evidence that he had been with Meanwell during the time of the attack.

Witnesses who spoke to him in the aftermath of the attack gave evidence that, when challenged, he admitted to them that he had been at the scene and part of the attack.

Once there was sufficient evidence to put to a jury that McCandless was involved in the attack, he too was charged in relation to Taylor Green’s death.