A stone cold killer has finally been brought to justice after he walked into a police station and made the shocking confession that he killed a man over 40 years ago. John Paul, 61 was given a 19-year prison sentence for the murder of Anthony Bird, who he killed in 1980, after his death remained a mystery for 41 years.
Anthony, who was known as Tony by his family, was discovered dead in June 1980 inside his Kensington Gardens Square home in West London after he had not shown up for his work, the Mirror reports. The man, who was 41-years-old when he died, was found with an electrical cable wrapped around his body covered in marks and bruises.
His flat had also been raided with various electrical items and alcohol that had been taken. A murder investigation was immediately launched but by 1981 all line of enquiries had been exhausted and no further progress had been made to identifying the killer.
Anthony's murder remained a cold case until John Paul walked into Hammersmith Police Station on May 5 2021 and confessed to killing the 41 year old over four decades ago. He was arrested on suspicion of murder and later charged. However, despite the 61 year old's earlier confession, he pleaded not guilty as he stood trial at the Old Bailey.
Last month, the jury convicted him of murder at the Old Bailey and he was sentenced at the same court on November 4 2022. The court heard that the men had met on the night of June 1980 and that he was invited back to Tony's home in Kensington with the intention of robbing him.
Once they got to the flat, Paul tied Tony up with cable and grabbed a piece of wood that he used to brutally beat him until with he was unconscious before he returned to his flat later that night to steal Tony's possessions. The investigation team later discovered that Paul’s fingerprints matched three prints taken from the original crime scene.
Detective Chief Inspector Rebecca Reeves, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “Paul’s sentence reflects the serious nature of his actions in 1980. They led to the needless death of a man who had his whole life ahead of him.
“The murder of Tony had been under regular review and although we had never given up on solving the case, the unexpected actions of Paul in May of last year, have finally allowed us to get justice for Tony’s family and friends. This was a vicious and brutal attack, carried out with considerable force.
''Although we may never know the reason for Paul’s actions that day, there is no doubt in my mind that the streets are a safer place following today’s outcome.” DCI Reeve added: “A significant amount of work has been carried out over the years in order to establish the exact circumstances surrounding Tony’s death.
"I would like to praise the efforts of the team, particularly those who dealt with Paul in a calm, quick- thinking and professional manner at the time of his confession. Despite the long years since Tony’s death, our thoughts and deepest sympathies will remain with his family and friends. I can only hope that this result will start to bring some sort of closure after many years of unanswered questions.”
Tony's family said: "We came to terms with Tony's death many years ago but we’re pleased that after 42 years, his killer has come forward and has been convicted. Sadly, his brother died last year and was therefore unable to take comfort from the closure that the court case has brought.”
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