BREAKING NEWS: Pair guilty of murdering Anthony Fernandes (From Your Local Guardian)

BREAKING NEWS: Man and boy guilty of murdering Anthony Fernandes

4:21pm Monday 10th May 2010 in Croydon By Mike Didymus

A 16-year-old boy and his 27-year-old friend have been found guilty of murdering college chemistry technician Anthony Fernandes.

Homeless Darren Tyrone Liston and the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, attacked the 46-year-old Epsom College worker with such ferocity he suffered 15 knife wounds at his Broad Green home last July.

A second homeless man, 43-year-old Paul Maddix, pleaded guilty to the murder on March 29.

All three had spent an afternoon drinking in Wandle Park, Croydon, discussing their experiences of being homeless, when Liston suggested they visit Mr Fernandes to see if they could stay at his home because he was an ‘easy touch’.

The trio took a cab to Windmill Road, and Maddix and the youth smashed a glass pane in the front door to gain access to the house.

Mark Heywood, prosecuting, said Mr Fernandes had objected to their presence in his home and asked them to leave, at which point the situation became “ugly and murderous”.

He said: “They fell on him with knives, using at least four separate weapons against him - one of which was used with sufficient force to break clean in half.

“Many of the wounds were to his back.

“When it was all done and they realised he was dead, Mr Maddix called the emergency services on his telephone.

“He claimed that he had done it, but can be heard on the recording of that call talking to the others and telling them to leave.”

Liston wandered the streets after the attack, making calls from telephone boxes before throwing away the blood-stained t-shirt he was wearing.

Liston admitted the murder during one of those calls.

The 16-year old went home and washed his hands, but returned to the scene later and deliberately set out to mislead officers by telling them a series of lies designed to distance himself from the attack.

Detective Inspector Dave Wills, from Homicide Serious Crime Command, said: “Anthony Fernandes had in the past kindly welcomed Darren Liston into his home.

“However, on the day of his murder that trust was violated and his home was taken over by three people who then took his life.

“I hope that today’s verdict brings some comfort to Mr Fernandes’ family who have acted with such dignity throughout this tragic experience.”

All three will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on June 4.