Man guilty of murdering intervention 'hero'

John Smyth was killed in Wallsend in September 2024

A man has been found guilty of murdering a "hero" who tried to intervene during a violent break-in.

John Smyth, 63, was battered to death in a backyard in Wallsend as he tried to stop George Ness from smashing his way into a woman's flat.

Ness, 41, from North Shields, had claimed self-defence but prosecutors described those claims as "nonsense".

Jurors at Newcastle Crown Court found him guilty of murder. He will be sentenced at a later date.

Mr Smyth had recently moved to Wallsend from the East Midlands, and had spent the night of 21 September with his neighbour, Bridi Nye, at Ms Nye's home on Holly Avenue, the jury heard.

Shortly before 05:00 GMT on 22 September, Ness went to Ms Nye's home where he had smashed the kitchen window to have a confrontation with her, the court heard.

George Ness will be sentenced at a later date

Mr Smyth, a father of one, ran into the backyard to challenge Ness, the court heard.

He was struck at least five times in the head with a heavy wooden plank and then stamped on. Defensive injuries on his hands also suggested the attacker had tried to stab him, the court heard.

As Mr Smyth lay dead, or dying from unsurvivable head injuries, Ness went through his pockets and stole his mobile phone.

Concluding her evidence to jurors, Ms Nye said of Mr Smyth: "That man was a hero."

John Smyth was fatally injured in the backyard of a house in Wallsend

Ness, of Avon Avenue, spent two days in the witness box, with the second day of evidence delayed for 24 hours after the accused was deemed too unwell to attend court.

It has subsequently been revealed that Ness had taken drugs overnight in prison and made violent threats towards the prosecutor, Peter Glenser KC.

Ness was found not guilty of aggravated burglary and possessing a knife.