CCTV footage has shown the terrifying moment killer Lee Abbott grabs a knife from his bag before the fatal attack of a father-of-three.
Abbott, 35, of Rose Street, Widnes, repeatedly stabbed pub landlord Christian Thornton, 49, after he barred him from the Hammer and Pincers for bragging about carrying a knife, Cheshire Police said.
Mr Thornton also added him to the local Pubwatch list, meaning that he was banned from every licensed premises in Widnes.
Despite the ban, Abbott returned to the pub at around 3.10pm on August 11, when it was packed with families enjoying the summer weather.
He was asked to leave by Mr Thornton, and footage shows Abbott walking away from the pub before he turns around and runs back.
Abbott is then seen grabbing a knife from his backpack, moments before he stabbed Mr Thornton 11 times.
Mr Thornton died at the scene after officers and paramedics attempted to save his life.
The thug, whose blade snapped in half during the attack, later told armed police when arrested: "You don’t need any evidence, I stabbed him to ****."
Following an eight day trial at Liverpool Crown Court, Abbott was convicted of the murder of Christian Thornton, and is due to be sentenced on today.
Following the verdict, Detective Inspector Kate Tomlinson, who led the investigation, said: “Abbott’s actions that day have torn a family apart and rocked the local community.
“Christian was a well-known character locally, he did so much for local charities and will be greatly missed by many.
“Before the incident Abbott had the opportunity to walk away, but instead he made a conscious decision to return and attack Christian, which ultimately resulted in his death.
“This has left three children without their father, and his wife, Pam, has lost a loving husband.
“Their pain has been increased by the fact that they have been made to sit through an 8 day trial and relive what happened on that day.
“The courage and dignity that they have shown throughout this investigation and subsequent trial has been immeasurable.
“Nothing will ever bring Christian back, but I just hope that following today’s verdict all those who knew and loved him can now in some way start to move forward and rebuild their lives.”
Superintendent Simon Parsonage, who was in charge of local policing in Widnes at the time of the incident, said: “Our thoughts remain with Christian’s family and friends who live with the consequences of this tragic incident every day.
“This incident has had a significant impact across the whole community and I hope that Abbott’s conviction will provide some reassurance to those affected.
“I also hope that the circumstances of Christian’s death will deter others from carrying a knife.
“Sadly, this is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences that carrying a knife can have for victims, offenders and their families. We will continue to work closely with the local community and partners to tackle knife crime and to send a clear message that carrying weapons will not be tolerated.”
Detective Inspector Tomlinson said: “This has been a very sad and distressing investigation and I would like to highlight the efforts of all those officers who attended on the day and tried so valiantly to save Christian’s life and to thank those who have assisted with the subsequent investigation.
“The professionalism and dedication of all those involved is admirable and shows their commitment to achieving justice for Christian and his family.”
