A 'warped and angry' killer has been found guilty of slashing the throats of his girlfriend and an associate within weeks of being released from jail.
Lee Peacock, 50, was out to 'punish' his partner Sharon Pickles, 46, and Clinton Ashmore, 59, during a violent spree that spanned two days in August 2021, the Old Bailey heard. The burglar and thief had attempted to turn the 4cm-long knife on himself when police tracked him down to a houseboat on the Grand Union Canal following a five-day manhunt.
Peacock admitted to killing the two victims who he claimed were having a relationship while he was in jail - from which he was released on June 4, 2021 - but denied it was murder. He claimed Ms Pickles' death was a "pure accident" and that Mr Ashmore "went mental" and punched him in the head after Peacock confessed to killing his partner.
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A jury retired at the Old Bailey on Tuesday and deliberated for two hours and 20 minutes before they found Peacock guilty of double murder.
The court had heard how prosecutor Edward Brown KCKC had described Peacock's actions as "cold-blooded" and "determined". Peacock's father alerted the police on the evening of August 19, 2021 that his son visited him and confessed to being a killer.
Jurors heard how he turned up at the property with Ms Pickle's kitten in his rucksack. Officers attended the female victim's home and discovered her body was wrapped up and hidden under a bed, with a signed confession located nearby.
In the note, Pickles wrote how his partner was "meant to live" and he had sworn "revenge" against those who took advantage while he was in jail. The defendant was captured on CCTV walking with Mr Ashmore on August 19 towards his Westminster flat - 15 minutes later, he was caught leaving alone.
Mr Ashmore's body was discovered two hours later by friend with multiple cutting injuries. Both victims were found to have died from similar knife wounds to the neck.
Peacock and the kitten were eventually located on August 25 on a houseboat moored on the Grand Union Canal in central London. When officers arrived, Peacock tried to cut his own neck before being restrained.
After being treated in hospital, Peacock said he used the same knife in both killings as well as in the attempt onhis own life. He said he lashed out at Ms Pickles after they argued about her seeing someone while he was in prison.
Mr Brown KC read out extracts of statements from the victims' loved ones.
Ms Pickles’ father David, who lost his wife in 2019, said his daughter’s death so soon afterwards had left him “numb” and unable to celebrate Christmas because he believed she was “not at rest and had no peace”.
Mr Pickles, who had travelled from the north of England to attend the trial in London, said: “I miss her more than words can describe.”
Mr Ashmore’s sister Clare Ashmore said: “The world has lost one of the good ones and our family and loved ones have lost the best.” She added that his life was "cruelly put out by someone who gave no thought or care about his actions."
Giving evidence in his trial, Peacock insisted he was “not a monster” and he never intended to harm either of his victims.
But Mr Brown told him: “You committed two terrible murders with your warped and angry mind, that’s the reality and you confessed to two terrible murders, didn’t you? You were determined to punish Sharon Pickles and you were determined to punish Clinton Ashmore.
“You intended nothing less that to kill each of them, didn’t you?”
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