A 59-year-old man has been found guilty of murdering a 58-year-old dad at a birthday party in an Ealing pub.
Timothy Simon stabbed Wayne Phillips in the heart not long before midnight at the Star and Scorpion pub in Ealing on July 23, 2022.
Wayne Phillips, known fondly by many as "Shacks" is survived by a wife and children, and his death has left a community saddened and deeply shocked, MyLondon reports.
Simon, of Englefield Road in Dalston, was convicted of murdering Wayne on March 24 at Isleworth Crown Court, and was remanded in custody for a sentencing hearing on April 5.
Wayne and two female friends had arrived at the pub for the party on the night of the murder.
They had brought along presents, and greeted people at the entrance as they entered, but within minutes Simon approached Wayne.
The two men fought briefly before Wayne collapsed after being stabbed in the chest.
Simon fled the scene and was arrested on suspicion of murder the following day, being charged with murder later the same day.
The pair had known each other but did not see eye to eye as Simon was the ex-boyfriend of Wayne's partner which police said Simon "could not accept".
DCI Rawlinson said: “This was a senseless murder that was committed for no other reason than insecurity.
"Timothy Simon’s actions have left Wayne Phillips’s loved ones devastated and even now, almost a year on, they continue to struggle to come to terms with their loss. Our thoughts are with them today.”
DCI Rawlinson added: “The entire encounter was captured on CCTV and although Simon maintained at trial that the folding knife was not his, he could be seen initially making a stabbing movement with his right hand, before extending the blade and using it to stab Mr Phillips.
“I am pleased that the right verdict was reached and that Wayne Phillips' loved ones may find a small measure of comfort in knowing that the man who took Wayne from them has been held to account."
In a video uploaded to YouTube a friend known as Yammy B, paid a heartbreaking tribute to Wayne, saying: "He was my bestie and my beloved big brother, rest in peace Wayne Phillips aka 'Shacks'. Fair to say he was probably my first ever school friend down there in my home area of West London.
"It's a tragic sad loss for all of us that knew him.
"Never a bad word seemed to be said for his entire life. How's that for somebody's life? I pay my respects to my beloved second family from my school days.
"He leaves behind a beloved son. What a pleasure it must have been to have Wayne as a father, if you get what I mean - as well as brother and son.
"He was so respectful and true, he never really bothered anybody. He never really spoke bad about anyone either. I wish I would have had those characteristics."
