Tanis Bhandari murder: 'Random and unprovoked'

Tanis Bhandari was stabbed twice in the attack, Plymouth Crown Court has heard

The attack on a builder on New Year's Day was random and unprovoked, with the only motive perhaps being the two attackers' love of violence.

The pair took pictures of themselves with knives and cleavers just hours before they murdered Tanis Bhandari, 27, near the Kings Arms pub in Tamerton Foliot near Plymouth.

Donald Pemberton, 21, has been found guilty of the murder. His friend Ryan Williams, 22, admitted murder half-way through the trial.

Pemberton, from Plymouth celebrated New Year by posting a picture of himself on Facebook, bare-chested and holding a sword, and setting up a fight.

His friend Williams, of Haydon Grove, St Budeaux, Plymouth, had a similar outlook and joined in with the night's arrangements for New Year's Eve.

Donald Pemberton posted a picture of himself on Facebook, bare-chested and holding a sword

The pair did not know their victim and it was a random and unprovoked attack, with the only motive perhaps being the pair's love of violence.

Mr Bhandari was murdered in the early hours of New Year's Day and was doing nothing more than walking home with a group of friends after a night out.

Pemberton and Williams seen in Tamerton Foliot after the attack

Pemberton asked for a cigarette, then pulled out a weapon and attacked, stabbing at the group.

Pemberton and Williams had accosted several groups of people beforehand, trying to provoke as they wandered in search of a fight.

They were pictured wandering around and confronting Tanis's group on CCTV.

Pemberton had armed himself after exchanging abuse and a series of threats with a man on Facebook.

Pemberton had armed himself after exchanging abuse and a series threats with a man on Facebook, then setting out to find him

"I'm gonna stab ya liver," Pemberton said.

"Ready n waiting u maggot," the other man responded.

"U can act hard but you get battered if ya come to me. Let's have a meet", Pemberton said.

When asked by the police about what he had done, Pemberton said his victim could "die all he wants. I don't care"

Tanis Bhandari was popular in the community, and his murder caused shock across Plymouth.

When asked by the police about what he had done, Pemberton said his victim could "die all he wants. I don't care".

Pemberton and Williams were charged under the law of joint enterprise, meaning they may have had different roles in the murder, but, so grave were their consequences of their actions, that they were both culpable.