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| Ongar's Paul Groves guilty of Billy Martindale murder | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A 34-year-old man has been found guilty of murdering a former car dealer from Essex with a pick-axe handle. | A 34-year-old man has been found guilty of murdering a former car dealer from Essex with a pick-axe handle. |
| Billy Martindale, 39, died from head injuries at his smallholding, off Mill Lane, in High Ongar on 7 September. | |
| Paul Groves, a factory worker from Queensway, Ongar, was found guilty of murder after an eight-day trial at Chelmsford Crown Court. | Paul Groves, a factory worker from Queensway, Ongar, was found guilty of murder after an eight-day trial at Chelmsford Crown Court. |
| He was also found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to a 55-year-old man. | He was also found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to a 55-year-old man. |
| The man, from Barking, was also found at the smallholding with head injuries. He was treated in hospital and later discharged. | The man, from Barking, was also found at the smallholding with head injuries. He was treated in hospital and later discharged. |
| Groves will be sentenced at the court on Friday. | Groves will be sentenced at the court on Friday. |
| 'Violent man' | 'Violent man' |
| Det Insp Marina Ericson, from Essex Police, said: "The evidence heard throughout the trial demonstrated the level of violence used by Paul Groves when he brutally attacked both Billy Martindale and Paul Meeking. | Det Insp Marina Ericson, from Essex Police, said: "The evidence heard throughout the trial demonstrated the level of violence used by Paul Groves when he brutally attacked both Billy Martindale and Paul Meeking. |
| "Paul Groves is a violent man whose intention to cause serious harm to both Mr Martindale and Mr Meeking has been proven." | "Paul Groves is a violent man whose intention to cause serious harm to both Mr Martindale and Mr Meeking has been proven." |
| Mr Martindale is survived by partner Tina Joseph, 35, and their three children Reece, 17, Lewis, 14, and six-year-old Lilly. | Mr Martindale is survived by partner Tina Joseph, 35, and their three children Reece, 17, Lewis, 14, and six-year-old Lilly. |
| Brought up in Ely, Cambridgeshire, he moved to Manor Park in east London where he later met Ms Joseph. Partners for 17 years they lived in Chigwell before moving to Ongar. | Brought up in Ely, Cambridgeshire, he moved to Manor Park in east London where he later met Ms Joseph. Partners for 17 years they lived in Chigwell before moving to Ongar. |
| After the verdict, Ms Joseph said: "These past few months have been quiet and we have certainly felt the loss of Billy. Our lives are empty without him as he brought character to our day. | After the verdict, Ms Joseph said: "These past few months have been quiet and we have certainly felt the loss of Billy. Our lives are empty without him as he brought character to our day. |
| "He had a bubbly personality and I am so angry that his dispute with Paul Groves got out of hand and left my children fatherless. | "He had a bubbly personality and I am so angry that his dispute with Paul Groves got out of hand and left my children fatherless. |
| "We miss Billy dearly and life isn't the same without him. After this verdict and Paul Groves' sentencing, we can hopefully rebuild our lives and plan for the future. We must not dwell on the past." | "We miss Billy dearly and life isn't the same without him. After this verdict and Paul Groves' sentencing, we can hopefully rebuild our lives and plan for the future. We must not dwell on the past." |