Leicester: Man guilty of murdering brother-in-law in stabbing

Liam Waldron, 47, was pronounced dead shortly after emergency services arrived

A man has been found guilty of murdering his brother-in-law in a stabbing after a night of drinking and drug-taking.

Liam Waldron, 47, was found injured in Gipsy Road, Leicester, shortly after 12:00 BST on 15 June, and pronounced dead at the scene.

Later that day, 43-year-old Leighton Reid handed himself in to police and was subsequently arrested.

Reid, of Oxford Street, Syston, will be sentenced on Thursday.

Leicestershire Police said after speaking to a number of people, it was established Mr Waldron had been with Reid prior to the stabbing.

Inquiries found the pair had been drinking together in Melton Road the night before and were together that morning, the force said.

Police said Leighton Reid disposed of key evidence

Reid told detectives he could not recall what happened, or much of the time he and Mr Waldron had spent together, as he had been under the influence of alcohol and cocaine.

The only explanation he could offer, the force said, was that he acted in self-defence.

Reid was found guilty of murder and possession of a knife in a public place at Leicester Crown Court on Wednesday, and is due to be sentenced at the same court.

Det Ch Insp Mark Sinski, the senior investigating officer, said: "Reid claimed he had no recollection of events due to his consumption of drink and drugs, stating he believed Liam had attacked him and he had acted in self-defence.

"Yet his calculated actions suggest otherwise - disposing of key evidence, including his blood-soaked training shoes.

"Only he knows why he chose to attack a previously close friend with a knife, inflicting multiple, ultimately fatal, injuries.

"I hope today's outcome will allow Liam's family to feel that justice has been done."