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Hayley Powell (centre) with Eddie Clark and Ms Powell’s daughter, 18-year old Lou |
‘There are no hard feelings’
Family of man killed in self-defence say they don’t blame his attacker
THE family of a window cleaner who was killed in self-defence said this week that they did not blame the attacker.
The dead man’s sister, Hayley Powell, said: “There are no hard feelings.”
Darren Williams, 42, was killed by Lee James following an incident at a house in Newington Green, an inquest heard yesterday (Thursday).
The day before Mr Williams was killed he was involved in a row with his friend, Edward Clark, after a crack-pipe was found in the toilet, proving Mr Williams had broken a mutual pact to give up the drug.
Williams stabbed his friend three times in the arm, chest and neck after Mr Clark told him to hand over the keys to the flat because he wanted him out.
The next night Mr James, a roofer, was forced to defend himself after Williams – who let himself into the house – came at him with a knife.
Toxicology tests showed that when Williams returned and tried to attack Mr James – who was also Mr Clark’s friend – he had drunk three times the legal drink-driving limit.
Mr James said: “Darren was just standing there in the dark in the kitchen. I saw him coming at me with a knife.”
He added: “I knew he was capable of using it because he had stabbed Eddie the night before.”
Mr James blocked the knife and punched his attacker with his right fist while kicking him to the floor with his left foot, the court heard.
Mr James said: “There was no intention. It was an immediate defensive reaction.”
Mr Williams was taken by ambulance and died at Homerton Hospital in Hackney.
Mr Clark told the court: “He was like a brother (to me), not a friend, so I’m upset as well.”
Pathologist Benjamin Swift determined that Mr Williams, who had a trace of sedative in his blood, died from a lack of oxygen to the brain due to a mixture of alcohol intoxication and a head injury after hitting his head against a hard surface.
Mr Williams had been living in Mr Clark’s home in Besant Court for two years before the fateful incident on Tuesday December 4 last year, the St Pancras Coroner’s Court heard.
Detective Sergeant Jonathan Hughes told the court a phone call reporting an intruder at the Newington Green address had been recorded on tape.
Mr James was overheard in the background saying: “If he gets up I’ll run this knife right through him.”
Criminal proceedings into the death were abandoned due to insufficient evidence.
Originally from Chester in Wales, Williams, a father of three who had two previous marriages, had a history of violent offences and being in possession of a weapon.
Coroner Dr Andrew Reid told the court Mr James had used reasonable force to defend his own life.
He said: “It’s quite clear on the evidence that there is no basis that Mr Williams was killed unlawfully.”
Mr Williams’ sister Hayley Powell, 39 and his mother Wendy Taylor attended the hearing.
Ms Powell told the Tribune: “It’s made my day that they [Clark and James] came. We didn’t want blood or blame: we just wanted to hear what happened. My brother was the life and soul of the party. It was amazing how much drink he could take.”
His mother said: “Alcohol ruined my son’s life.”
Ms Powell added: “I know what it’s like… it’s fight or flight, isn’t it?
“There’s no hard feelings at all.”
Verdict: Lawful killing. |
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