Two found guilty of manslaughter with machete

Two people have been found guilty of unlawfully killing a man with a machete in a park, but cleared of his murder.

Kyle Marshall, 37, died from a stab wound to the heart during the confrontation in Wellhead Park, in Bourne, Lincolnshire, on the night of 26 June last year.

A jury at Lincoln Crown Court found Reece Bruns, 21, of St Paul's Gardens, Bourne, and a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, guilty of manslaughter after a four-week trial.

The two defendants were also found guilty of possessing a bladed article in a public place. They are due to be sentenced on 16 May.

Prosecutors said there had been animosity between the defendants and Mr Marshall after a member of the latter's family was assaulted at a beer festival.

The court heard Mr Marshall had travelled from Market Deeping to confront Bruns in Wellhead Park.

Bruns was alleged to have stabbed Mr Marshall with the machete after the youth, then aged 16, went to fetch the weapon.

However, Bruns denied deliberately stabbing Mr Marshall and told the court that the fatal injury was an unintended consequence of a scuffle between the two men.

Bruns claimed that Mr Marshall was also armed with a knife and said he was acting in self-defence after being scared for his life.

The youth admitted going to fetch the machete but said it was only intended to deter Mr Marshall and was not to be used for unlawful violence.

Both defendants had denied murder and possessing a bladed article in public.

Speaking after the verdict, Det Ch Insp Jennifer Lovatt, of Lincolnshire Police, described the incident as "horrific and traumatic".

She added: "As part of this investigation we found videos and images of young people glamourising knives and weapons on mobile phones.

"There is no reason to carry a knife and when you make the choice to take a weapon into a public place you are putting lives at risk."

Judge Simon Hirst adjourned sentencing until May. He remanded both defendants into custody and told them: "Both of you will receive sentences of custody, the only question is how long that will be."

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