Killer who murdered his uncle for drinking money faces life sentence

A killer who murdered his uncle for drinking money then went on a pub crawl with his bank card is facing a life sentence.

Steven Arnold, 51, repeatedly stabbed Michael Fletcher, 66, at his home in Luton, Beds, then ‘raised a glass to a successful plan’ with his drinking buddy Barry Gavin.

Arnold tortured Mr Fletcher by ‘prodding’ at his face with a knife to get him to reveal his PIN before killing him.

Mr Fletcher’s bank card was used to buy drinks at a number of local pubs.

He was found dead at his home in Waldeck Road, Luton, on 30 September last year.

Mr Fletcher had suffered 47 injuries to his torso, abdomen, head and throat.

Arnold was convicted by an Old Bailey jury of murder while Gavin, also 51, was cleared of murder but found guilty of the lesser alternative charge of manslaughter.

Judge Anne Molyneux remanded them in custody ahead of sentence of 29 October.

Earlier Martin Mulgrew, prosecuting, said: ‘The reason Mr Arnold went to Mr Fletcher’s home that day was because Mr Arnold and Mr Gavin had settled on a plan to, in Mr Gavin’s words, ‘do over’ Mr Fletcher and rob him of money.

‘The person who inflicted these stab wounds is the first defendant, Steven Arnold.’

Shortly after the attack, Arnold met Gavin and the pair went to the Luton Star Supermarket and withdrew £240 from Mr Fletcher’s bank account.

They then went to The Wall pub where they were allegedly seen ‘raising their glasses to what was a successful plan,’ said Mr Mulgrew.

The pair visited a couple more pubs in the area, before ending up at The Well.

Mr Mulgrew said: ‘Working in The Well public house that day was a man called Phil Hulk.

‘Whilst at The Well public house a charity collection was being made for MacMillan.

‘Mr Hulk recalls both defendants making a donation; Mr Arnold gave £20 and Mr Gavin gave £40.

‘When asked how he could afford it Mr Hulk recalls Mr Gavin telling him that he was, in Mr Gavin’s words, “a bit flush that day”.

‘The reason for Mr Gavin being overly generous with his money that morning was that it was not his money, it was Mr Fletcher’s money, withdrawn using Mr Fletcher’s stolen cash card.’

Gavin was arrested at Vale Cemetery and was recorded drunkenly admitting to being involved in the killing and worrying that his friend Arnold would get all the blame.

Arnold, of Butterworth Path, Luton, admitted killing his uncle but claimed he acted in self-defence after the victim attacked him with a knife.

He said in his police interview: ‘Michael goes into the kitchen and basically he seemed to have changed into a different person.

‘He came running out, charging at me with a knife. He was going to attack me.

‘He was grabbing my clothes and I was trying to hold him back and I actually think just to try and keep him away I pushed him back.

‘He was trying his best to come at me again and that’s when I just let everything out, just kept on stabbing everywhere.

‘Just a red mist came over my eyes and I just lashed out at him, stabbing him all over the place.’

Mr Fletcher’s bank records revealed a series of small transactions, ranging from £4.85 to £40.00 between 30 September and 6 October, at pubs, restaurants and newsagents.

Arnold and Gavin, also of Luton, both denied murder and manslaughter.

Arnold was convicted of murder while Gavin was convicted of manslaughter.