A knife-wielding thug, who brutally stabbed a young dad-of-two to death in an unprovoked late-night attack in historic Greenwich, is starting a life sentence with a 22-year minimum.
Local man Paul Martin, 25, was stabbed five times by 28 year-old stranger Michael Bowden who suddenly emerged from a phone box in an agitated state and launched his deadly attack.
He was convicted by an Old Bailey jury of murdering Mr. Martin, who has a daughter Elle, 3 and a son Tommy, 2 in Greenwich Church Street on March 29, last year.
Police were called at 2:15 am to reports of a fight and found Mr. Martin (pic.top) – who had been enjoying a quiet night out with friends - with stab wounds.
He was taken to Kings College Hospital, Camberwell where he died later that morning.
Self-employed plumber Paul had been out with his partner Jesca Ryan – the mother of his two children - and another couple, enjoying a meal before moving on to a nightclub.
They left the club and were waiting for a friend to pick them up and take them home when Bowden (pic.bottom) came out of a nearby phone box and started verbally abusing Paul for no reason and moved to attack him.
The killer - who was undergoing treatment for drink-related anger issues - had failed to get in touch with his girlfriend on the phone and took his frustration out on the first person he saw - Mr. Martin.
Paul's friend tried to intervene by standing between Paul and Bowden and as he did so Bowden kept lunging at Paul as if he was punching him.
During the attack Bowden shouted to the friend to 'move your girlfriend out of the way' before lunging at Paul again who put his arms up to try and block him.
The incident only lasted a minute before Bowden ran off from the scene towards Roan Street.
It was at this point that Paul's friends realised he had been stabbed and that he was bleeding profusely from his face, neck and chest and soon lost consciousness.
Paul's friend's tried to stem the blood loss as best they could before the ambulance arrived but he sadly died later that morning in hospital despite having undergone emergency surgery.
The post mortem examination gave cause of death as massive blood loss caused by stab wounds to the neck and chest.
Detectives from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command launched a murder enquiry and calls made by Bowden from the phone box to his girlfriend led police to him.
Detective Inspector Chris Stanley said: "This was a heinous crime. I would like to thank the CPS and police team for a professional prosecution, and I would like to express my admiration for Paul's family who have shown great dignity and courage throughout this trial.
"Bowden was a vicious and calculating thug who deserved to face the full force of the law."
Paul’s mother Lydia Martin said: “I have found it difficult to put into words how I feel and I don't think there are words which express how Paul's death has affected us as a family.
“My son was only with us for 25 years and no mother or father should have to bury their child.
“The news of the death of our son in such a needless and violent end was absolutely devastating.
“I could not believe what I was hearing and I was in a state of disbelief. I have found the situation so hard to come to terms with.”
Jesca said: “When I had to explain to my two year old daughter, Elle, that her daddy had been taken from us by a bad man my heart just sank and I died a little inside.
"This has had a permanent overbearing effect on our daughter's life. She is always asking me about her daddy. She doesn't sleep properly at night because she worries that the bad man is going to come and take her away.
"Our son Tommy's birthday is just two weeks after the anniversary of Paul's death and although he may not have any memories of his father, his birthday is always going to be tainted with a sadness which will never be forgotten.
"I lost my best friend and my soul mate. Our children lost a father and a role model, and the world lost the most genuine and original person I have ever known.
“Paul will never be forgotten by any of us. Rest in peace Paul, I will always love you."
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