Son guilty of killing mother's partner

Ashley Lovekin, 18, was cleared of the murder of Lance Hamilton, pictured, but was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court after two-and-a-half hours of deliberations. There were gasps from the public gallery as the jury foreman returned the verdicts.

Lovekin, of Bunns Lane, Kates Hill, Dudley, stabbed Mr Hamilton, 33, outside his home in the early hours of January 27. The pair had been out drinking with Lovekin's mother Joanne Perry hours before the evening turned sour.

Mr Hamilton had flown into a rage about Lovekin's home life when they returned from The Plough pub, the jury was told. He had thrown a television at Lovekin before punching Mrs Perry in the face, the court heard.

Mrs Perry said Lovekin had told Mr Hamilton: "You ain't going to hit my mum and get away with it."

Mr Hamilton left the house and Mrs Perry locked the door but Lovekin climbed out of a window to confront Mr Hamilton, who was asking him to go outside and settle the argument "man to man".

Lovekin returned minutes later holding a blood-stained knife, which he then threw over a fence in the back garden before going to his girlfriend's house, the court heard. Police later arrested him at the address.

Lovekin had pleaded not guilty to murder. Mr Roger Smith QC, defending, argued he had not committed any offence.

He said Mr Hamilton's death was a tragic accident and claimed the victim had been holding the knife which plunged into his chest as the pair grappled.

However, the panel yesterday ruled Lovekin had stabbed Mr Hamilton. After the verdict was returned, Mr Stephen Linehan QC, prosecuting, said Lovekin had a number of previous convictions for violence. The court heard he had committed four assaults causing actual bodily harm between 2002 and 2005.

Judge John Warner re-manded Lovekin in custody for pre-sentence reports to be prepared but no sentencing date was fixed.