Man guilty of murdering Wolverhampton grandfather in Asda car park

Martin Latham, 41, was knifed in the chest outside Asda, in Wolverhampton Road, Heath Town, on September 6 last year and died later in hospital from his injuries.

The jury found Brian Willington, 33, guilty of the murder and having an article with a blade or a point in a public place at Wolverhampton Crown Court today.

Mr Latham, who lived in Ward Street, Ettingshall, was fatally stabbed after trying to act as peacemaker when a fight broke out between the defendant and another man in the car park.

Willington, of Hawkley Close, Moseley, Wolverhampton, had denied the offences. The jury heard how Mr Latham was stabbed eight times in the chest in a ferocious attack.

The victim, who knew the defendant, fell to the ground, with one wound being 10cm in depth. Both men had been in a flat earlier that evening as part of a group and Willington had left at around 9pm after an argument over the mamba drug.

The court heard how Willington had made his way to the Crossways Shopping Centre, on Wolverhampton Road, near to the Asda.

Willington had also intended to sell his medication to a man, who never arrived, and set his sights on Mr Latham who had purchased tablets before, the jury was told. The victim had used to hand the defendant money, or offer spliffs of mamba, in exchange and mentioned the drug for the swap which Willington dismissed.

But after making two calls to his partner, the defendant smoked what he thought was a cigarette but was in fact mamba – leading him to storm back outside, the court heard.

He headed to pick up his dog, which he had handed to a homeless friend in order for him to get more cash, and was then confronted by another man en-route.

Willington told Wolverhampton Crown Court he fought with his man and could see "fists coming from everywhere" and he had been trying to defend himself.

The fight made its way across the car park and the defendant thought “this was it” and he was fearful for his life – moments before he lashed out at Mr Latham.

Willington told jurors in the trial he didn't remember the confrontation "at all".

Prosecutor Michael Duck QC told Wolverhampton Crown Court: "Mr Latham took up a boxing stance, because he knew what was coming. A blow from Mr Latham knocked Willington to the ground, it was then when he produced a knife from the back of his trousers.

"He did not wave the knife to say 'lets calm down' but he attacked Mr Latham ferociously, stabbing him eight times in the chest. One wound was 10cm in depth."

Mr Latham fell to the ground and died of his injuries in hospital shortly after, the trial was told.

The jury was told Willington changed his blood stained clothes despite claiming he was mentally incapable of anything at the time.

After complaining of low blood pressure and ambulance was called as he might have had "an overdose", the court heard.

He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on May 12.