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Laindon: Teenager guilty of James Gibbons murder | Laindon: Teenager guilty of James Gibbons murder |
(about 3 hours later) | |
James Gibbons was defending a homeless man when he was fatally stabbed after a fight with a group of boys | James Gibbons was defending a homeless man when he was fatally stabbed after a fight with a group of boys |
A teenager has been found guilty of the murder of a father who was attacked after giving food from his daughters' birthday party to a homeless man. | A teenager has been found guilty of the murder of a father who was attacked after giving food from his daughters' birthday party to a homeless man. |
James Gibbons, 34, confronted a group of youths outside his house after they tried to steal food from the man's plate in Laindon, Essex, on 2 May. | James Gibbons, 34, confronted a group of youths outside his house after they tried to steal food from the man's plate in Laindon, Essex, on 2 May. |
Chelmsford Crown Court heard Mr Gibbons chased them and was stabbed four times. | Chelmsford Crown Court heard Mr Gibbons chased them and was stabbed four times. |
The 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denied murder and claimed he acted in self-defence. | The 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denied murder and claimed he acted in self-defence. |
The boy was was found guilty by a majority verdict of 10 to two following the trial. | The boy was was found guilty by a majority verdict of 10 to two following the trial. |
Christopher French had befriended Mr Gibbons in the days before his death, the court heard | Christopher French had befriended Mr Gibbons in the days before his death, the court heard |
The court was told a homeless man, Christopher French, had gone to Mr Gibbons' home in Iris Mews "in the hope of being given food" from a barbecue the family were having to celebrate the girls' second birthdays. | The court was told a homeless man, Christopher French, had gone to Mr Gibbons' home in Iris Mews "in the hope of being given food" from a barbecue the family were having to celebrate the girls' second birthdays. |
Mr French was given some food and, as he sat outside, a group of youths walked past. | Mr French was given some food and, as he sat outside, a group of youths walked past. |
One pulled the hood on Mr French's top, tried to grab his phone and take food from his plate, prosecutors said. | One pulled the hood on Mr French's top, tried to grab his phone and take food from his plate, prosecutors said. |
Mr French said a boy hit him with a brick and Mr Gibbons chased them down an alleyway. | Mr French said a boy hit him with a brick and Mr Gibbons chased them down an alleyway. |
The jury was told that Mr French said he saw the father-of-four was hurt so went to his house to ask for an ambulance to be called. | The jury was told that Mr French said he saw the father-of-four was hurt so went to his house to ask for an ambulance to be called. |
Mr Gibbons' partner, Victoria Billingham, told the jury she heard a "loud thudding at the door", was told to call an ambulance and saw Mr Gibbons was injured. | Mr Gibbons' partner, Victoria Billingham, told the jury she heard a "loud thudding at the door", was told to call an ambulance and saw Mr Gibbons was injured. |
The court heard no weapon had been found. | The court heard no weapon had been found. |
Mr Gibbons was yards from his home when he was fatally stabbed four times | Mr Gibbons was yards from his home when he was fatally stabbed four times |
Prosecutor Simon Taylor QC told the court the teenager searched on the internet for "stabbing in Laindon" and "consequences of accidentally killing someone" in the early hours of 3 May. | Prosecutor Simon Taylor QC told the court the teenager searched on the internet for "stabbing in Laindon" and "consequences of accidentally killing someone" in the early hours of 3 May. |
He said a youth heard the defendant say, in a phone call on loudspeaker to another youth: "I chinged him 25 times". | He said a youth heard the defendant say, in a phone call on loudspeaker to another youth: "I chinged him 25 times". |
"According to [the youth, the defendant] was laughing as he said it," said Mr Taylor, adding the youth's understanding was that "chinged" meant stabbed. | "According to [the youth, the defendant] was laughing as he said it," said Mr Taylor, adding the youth's understanding was that "chinged" meant stabbed. |
The 16-year-old said he thought Mr Gibbons was going to stab him after he saw an object he thought was a knife. | The 16-year-old said he thought Mr Gibbons was going to stab him after he saw an object he thought was a knife. |
He told the court he had only meant to scare Mr Gibbons by wielding a knife he had earlier taken from a nearby garden shed. | He told the court he had only meant to scare Mr Gibbons by wielding a knife he had earlier taken from a nearby garden shed. |
He said he "lashed out" and "did not know how many times he stabbed" Mr Gibbons. | He said he "lashed out" and "did not know how many times he stabbed" Mr Gibbons. |
But the jury at Chelmsford Crown Court found him guilty after earlier being given a majority direction by the judge. | But the jury at Chelmsford Crown Court found him guilty after earlier being given a majority direction by the judge. |
James Gibbons' mother, Wendy Richards, spoke outside Chelmsford Crown Court and said he "is our hero" | |
The defendant was remanded in custody while a pre-sentence report is prepared about him. | The defendant was remanded in custody while a pre-sentence report is prepared about him. |
He will be sentenced on a date to be fixed in about three weeks' time. | He will be sentenced on a date to be fixed in about three weeks' time. |
In a statement read outside the court, Mr Gibbons' mother, Wendy Richards, said he was "a loving son, a devoted father to his four children, a protective brother, uncle, cousin and a perfect partner and soul mate to his fiancée, Victoria". | |
She said: "James did not like bullies, and he would always be the one who would protect and look out for vulnerable people." | |
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