A drug addict is going through life in jail after being discovered responsible of murdering a father-of-three.
The decomposing physique of Donald Prentice Patience, 45, was found inside a cover cowl on the backside of his stairs after officers had been referred to as to a suspected housebreaking at his dwelling in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester.
A postman had referred to as police on the morning of twenty-two August final yr after he noticed Ian Connell, 39, climb by means of the rear kitchen window of the end-of-terrace property.
When police arrived Connell was discovered close by with Mr Patience’s white labradoodle, Layla, on a lead.
Homeless Connell lied to officers that his “dear friend” was in Scotland and had given him permission to interrupt into his property so he might stroll the canine, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Mr Patience, who was identified to household and buddies by his center identify Prentice, had been strangled no less than a day earlier than.
The prosecution mentioned Connell attacked his sufferer after in all probability rowing over cash.
Michael Hayton KC advised jurors the killer had preyed upon the great nature of Mr Patience, who had entry to money from a household property.
He mentioned the defendant used Mr Patience as an “open wallet” to acquire hundreds of kilos since they met in 2020, and accused Connell of dropping his mood when he was refused money for the primary time to purchase extra medication.
Killer ‘panicked’
Giving proof, Connell mentioned he had “never raised my hand to that man” and claimed he was asleep upstairs in a spare room, and below the affect of heroin and crack cocaine, when another person strangled Mr Patience.
He mentioned he “panicked” after he mentioned he finally found the physique and went on to inform lies to police on the scene and in his preliminary interview with detectives.
He mentioned he had used heroin and crack cocaine from concerning the age of 19, and claimed Mr Patience allowed him and others to make use of medication in the home.
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The jury heard Connell visited Mr Patience’s dwelling on the night of 19 August and stayed in and across the deal with till police found the physique.
Following the unanimous verdict, Connell advised trial choose Mrs Justice Ellenbogen: “I know I’m not supposed to speak out of turn but I’m not guilty of this offence.”
Connell, from Bolton, will probably be sentenced on 6 March.
Source: information.sky.com”