Man guilty of murdering victim after pub row

Essex Police said Horswill's attack on Mr Langley was "violent and premeditated" (image has been edited by Essex Police for taste and decency reasons)

A man has been found guilty of murdering another man in the victim's front garden after they got into an argument in a nearby pub.

Richard Langley, 52, was pronounced dead at his home in Thaxted, Essex, in the early hours of 18 March.

Kevin Horswill had followed the victim after the row in The Star earlier that evening and strangled him with an item of clothing.

The 51-year-old, of Magdalen Green in the town, was found guilty by jurors after a two-week trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.

'Get off me'

Prosecutors told jurors how CCTV footage had captured the altercation in the pub, which involved Mr Langley, the defendant and the defendant's partner.

Horswill repeatedly shouted at Mr Langley that he was "a dead man".

CCTV images also appeared to show the defendant following the victim home to his address in Orchard Close.

On the opening day of the trial, the jury was played audio of the incident, recorded by a neighbour.

In the recording, pained noises from two people could be heard, including one person saying "get off, get off me", before ending in silence.

Prosecutor Andrew Jackson said the murder was a "determined and intentional killing" and said Horswill "allowed his anger to fester".

The jury was shown CCTV footage which appeared to show Horswill following the victim home

Horswill gave evidence at the trial, and claimed he acted in self-defence.

He claimed Mr Langley pulled him on to his property and attacked him with a hammer.

But the jury reached a majority verdict of 11-1 after little more than six hours of deliberations.

Det Supt Ant Alcock of Essex Police said: "Horswill carried out a violent and premeditated attack, spurred on by an argument at a pub just hours before.

"His argument of self-defence was completely undermined by the case built by our skilled investigators, which left the jury in no doubt he was guilty."

Horswill - who gave no reaction as the verdict was returned - is due to be sentenced on Wednesday.

Horswill followed the victim home after the row, which had involved the pair and Horswill's partner (pictured are crime scene investigators in Thaxted)