Gareth Hart death: Man found guilty of holidaymaker's fatal stabbing

Gareth Hart, 43, died after he was stabbed during an altercation in Ingoldmells in April

A man has been found guilty of killing a holidaymaker at a Lincolnshire seaside resort.

Gareth Hart, 43, from Barnsley, was visiting Ingoldmells in April with his family when he was fatally stabbed outside a takeaway.

Joseph Malek, 33, was convicted of manslaughter, but cleared of murder after a two-week trial at Lincoln Crown Court.

He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on 3 November.

Prosecutor Christopher Donnellan KC told jurors Malek inflicted the fatal blow with a penknife he had produced from his shoulder bag.

He said what began as a fight and tussle between the two men turned into a fatal stabbing.

"On 6 April just before 01:00 Gareth Hart was stabbed in the heart. It took place in a car park, sadly in the rain," Mr Donnellan said.

"He was on the ground, struggling, wrestling with the defendant."

He added: "It is right to say Gareth Hart may have thrown the first blow."

The car park in Ingoldmells was cordoned off after the fatal stabbing on 6 April

The court was shown CCTV footage from inside the takeaway which showed Mr Hart going outside and then becoming involved in an altercation with Malek, who he did not know.

Giving evidence Malek, from Belper in Derbyshire, admitted producing the knife from his bag and lashing out after claiming he was punched by Mr Hart.

"He just instantly punched me in the temple, it sent me flying backwards and I felt dizzy," Malek told the jury.

"I was scared, so for some reason I pulled out my penknife, I pointed it down to the ground. It was closed but I opened it as I got it out my bag."

Jurors heard the fatal stab wound went through the wall of Mr Hart's chest cavity and into his heart.

Malek ran from the scene and returned to the nearby Butlins holiday camp, where he was staying.

He was later driven back to Derbyshire by his mother and handed himself in at a local police station.

Judge Simon Hirst told Malek he faced a custodial sentence.