Thu, 07 Nov 2019
Jonas Hankin QC was prosecuting the trial of Martyn Turley, before the Honourable Mr Justice Johnson sitting at Birmingham Crown Court.
Mr Turley, aged 57, changed his plea after Mr Hankin QC had opened the case to the jury. Mr Turley pleaded guilty to the murder of Stuart Roe, aged 34, as well as possession of an offensive weapon. The defendant will be sentenced on December 17.
Mr Roe, who ran Mr Trim's barbers in Quarry Bank, was found lying in the road by a member of the public at around 1.40am, having been stabbed twice in the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The two men, who were not known to each other, had been out drinking earlier in the previous evening, but with separate groups of friends, according to West Midlands Police.
Their paths did not cross until they met for the first time on Olive Hill Road, near Shell Corner. Around 15 minutes later, Mr Roe was stabbed in Springfield Drive.
When Turley was arrested, blood-stained trousers were found at the address. Forensic tests showed that the DNA on the clothing matched Mr Roe.
Police and prosecutors used the forensic evidence, CCTV footage and witness statements to build their case.
To read more about the case, visit: https://www.expressandstar.com/news/crime/2019/11/06/man-pleads-guilty-to-murder-of-stuart-roe-in-halesowen/
