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Darren Pencille: Lee Pomeroy Guildford train stab attacker guilty of murder Darren Pencille: Lee Pomeroy Guildford train stab attacker guilty of murder
(32 minutes later)
A man who stabbed a passenger to death in a row on a train has been found guilty of murder.A man who stabbed a passenger to death in a row on a train has been found guilty of murder.
Lee Pomeroy was travelling with his 14-year-old son when he was stabbed 18 times by Darren Pencille on the Guildford to London service. Lee Pomeroy was travelling with his 14-year-old son when he was "savagely" stabbed 18 times by Darren Pencille on the Guildford to London service.
Jurors at the Old Bailey rejected Pencille's claim he acted in self defence.Jurors at the Old Bailey rejected Pencille's claim he acted in self defence.
Mr Pomeroy died with his son next to him at Horsley station on 4 January, the day before his 52nd birthday.Mr Pomeroy died with his son next to him at Horsley station on 4 January, the day before his 52nd birthday.
Pencille, who was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, killed the father-of-one when a "chance encounter" escalated into a frenzied and fatal attack, the court heard. Pencille, who was diagnosed having paranoid schizophrenia, killed the father-of-one when a "chance encounter" escalated into a frenzied and fatal attack, the court heard.
He first stabbed Mr Pomeroy in the neck, then inflicted 17 more injuries in the 20 seconds that followed. He first stabbed the IT consultant in the neck, then inflicted 17 more injuries in the 20 seconds that followed.
Pencille's girlfriend Chelsea Mitchell, of Farnham, Surrey, was found guilty by a majority of 11-1 of assisting him.Pencille's girlfriend Chelsea Mitchell, of Farnham, Surrey, was found guilty by a majority of 11-1 of assisting him.
Charles Falk, representing Mitchell, said in mitigation she had showed a "misguided sense of loyalty driven by her dependence."Charles Falk, representing Mitchell, said in mitigation she had showed a "misguided sense of loyalty driven by her dependence."
'Ignorance is bliss' The court heard a victim impact statement from Mr Pomeroy's widow, Svetlana, who described his murder as a "senseless loss of life" which had been made worse because it happened in front of their son.
The court heard a victim impact statement from Mr Pomeroy's wife, Lana, who described his murder as a "senseless loss of life". She said: "I miss my husband every day and to compound the situation [his son] was with his father when he died.
She said her husband was her "guide and supporter in life" and said he was a doting father. "I have lost my friend, my soul mate and my guide. Lee loved life and it's been cruelly cut short.
"On Friday January 4 my life and that of my son changed forever. My husband of 18 years died in a sudden, violent and distressing way."
She said her husband was a vibrant, highly intelligent perfectionist, a loving father and her "guiding light".
With regards to their son, who cannot be named for legal reasons, Mrs Pomeroy wrote: "He's frightened to be alone at night. He is terrified of loss and of losing me. He's returned to school but seems to have lost perspective."
Mr Pomeroy and his son got into the same carriage as Pencille at London Road, Guildford, and made their way down the aisle before the row started.Mr Pomeroy and his son got into the same carriage as Pencille at London Road, Guildford, and made their way down the aisle before the row started.
Jurors heard they may have been blocking Pencille's way, prompting him to make the remark: "Ignorance is bliss."Jurors heard they may have been blocking Pencille's way, prompting him to make the remark: "Ignorance is bliss."
The row escalated into swearing as Mr Pomeroy demanded an apology but then Pencille produced a knife and stabbed him in the neck, cutting through the jugular vein. The row escalated into swearing as Mr Pomeroy demanded an apology, but then Pencille produced a knife and stabbed him in the neck, cutting through the jugular vein.
The court heard Pencille, who declined to give evidence during his trial, had 14 previous convictions for 19 difference offences over a 19-year period, including possession of offensive weapons, violence and dishonesty.
In 2010, he had stabbed a flatmate in the neck over a minor disagreement.
Mitchell had seven previous convictions for 10 different offences, including assault, threatening behaviour, drunk and disorderly behaviour and battery.
After Pencille and Mitchell were convicted, Det Ch Insp Sam Blackburn, from British Transport Police described the killer as "devious and dangerous".
He said: "Quite clearly with his previous convictions, where he also stabbed another man in the neck, and his propensity for carrying knives, he showed his dangerous, aggressive nature and that he wasn't afraid to use that knife on that train."
Jason Corden-Bowen from the Crown Prosecution Service said Pencille murdered Mr Pomeroy by "savagely inflicting 18 wounds".
He said: "Although he claimed innocence, Pencille did not give evidence in court. His claims to be acting in self-defence were proved to be false."
Mr Cordon-Bowen said: "This was a brutal and senseless killing of an innocent father who has been taken away from his family."