Thu, 19 Dec 2019
A murderer has been jailed for life over the stabbing of a stranger in the street following a trial prosecuted by a Queen’s Counsel from No5 Barristers’ Chambers.
Jonas Hankin QC was prosecuting at Birmingham Crown Court in the trial of Martyn Turley, 58, of Whitehouse Street, Tipton.
Turley initially denied charges of murder and possession of an offensive weapon in public, but later changed his plea after the prosecution opening speech. Turley admitted that he fatally stabbed Stuart Roe, 34, on December 30, 2018, in a street attack.
Turley was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 20 years. A concurrent three-and-a-half year sentence for the weapon charge was also imposed.
Mr Roe, who ran Mr Trim's barbers in Quarry Bank, was pronounced dead at the scene in Springfield Drive, Coombeswood, near Blackheath, after being stabbed several times. He had been found by a member of the public at around 1.30am.
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. The motive for the murder has never been revealed.
To read more about the case, visit: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/chilling-cctv-killer-meeting-stranger-17435313
