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Derby Telegraph
February 26, 2014
LEON Lockhart has been jailed for 13 years for stabbing Derby dad Danny Baker to death.
A jury found Lockhart guilty yesterday of the manslaughter of 32-year-old Mr Baker, of Allenton – but found him not guilty of murder.
Lockhart, also 32, stabbed Mr Baker in July last year. Mr Lockhart’s girlfriend, Michaela Griffiths, 24, admitted perverting the course of justice and was handed a 12-month community order.
After yesterday’s verdict, Danny Baker’s family was nothing but frank and honest in their assessment of the 32-year-old father.
“We realise that Danny was no angel. In fact he is now known as our lovable rogue,” they said.
“We realise he spent a lot of time in prison, fighting and taking drugs but we also know he didn’t deserve to die.”
There were emotional scenes at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday when Lockhart was cleared of Mr Baker’s murder.
Audible gasps of shock were heard from the packed public gallery and one man walked out of the courtroom in anger at the jury’s decision.
But moments later the foreman of the same jury was asked if they found 32-year-old Lockhart guilty or not guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.
“Guilty,” came the firm response.
Lockhart inflicted a single 15cm-deep stab wound which punctured Mr Baker’s heart and lungs.
His girlfriend, Michaela Griffiths, hid the knife Lockhart used to stab Mr Baker on July 19 last year.
The knife, described during the trail by prosecuting barrister Peter Joyce QC as “that hideous weapon”, has never been found.
Speaking after the verdict was delivered, Mr Baker’s family said: “Danny has left behind a lot of family and friends, including a son, a mother, a sister and a brother.
“He also had a niece, nephews, lots of aunts, uncles, cousins and a grandmother.
“We couldn’t count how many true friends he had.
“Everyone has been very supportive throughout this episode in our lives and we would like to thank them all.
“Now we think it’s time to try and move on and try to piece our lives back together.
“Thank you to everyone that has been involved and to all in South Normanton who have been very helpful.
“A special thank-you to Glen Thorpe who tried hard to resuscitate Danny on the night of the stabbing.”
During the trial, Mr Thorpe gave evidence to say that he and his partner, Victoria Heath, tried to save the life of Mr Baker, who they found collapsed on the ground at the junction of Carter Lane West and Mansfield Road.
They tried both mouth to mouth and chest compressions on the father-of-one while paramedics raced to the scene.
Tragically, Mr Baker, of Alvaston, was declared dead on his arrival at King’s Mill Hospital in Sutton-in-Ashfield.
The police investigation into his death, known as Operation Morley, was led by Detective Chief Inspector Lisa Macintyre. Speaking after the verdict, she said: “The verdict demonstrates that people who carry knives and are willing to use them will face the consequences of their actions.
“This was a needless act and as a result, a little boy has lost his father.
“Daniel Baker became involved with a person he knew and should have been able to trust. It is clear the lifestyle they lived in the 30 hours they spent together played a part in his subsequent death.
“I hope Mr Baker’s family can take some comfort from knowing the man responsible for his death has been brought to justice.
“I would like to thank the public who came forward and gave statements and also those who gave evidence during the trial.
“This tragedy highlights the dangers of carrying knives and I would urge any person considering carrying a weapon to think again.”
During the trial, which lasted a week and a half, the court was told that Mr Baker had been released from prison days before his death.
He returned home to Derby before going to a bail hostel in Clay Cross.
On July 18 last year he got on to a bus, where he recognised Lockhart, whom he knew from their time together in prison.
The pair, along with Griffiths, got off the bus at Alfreton and went back to the home Lockhart and Griffiths shared in Carter Lane East, South Normanton.
The following day, the trio bought the drug mephedrone, known as MCAT, and carried out shoplifting in Alfreton.
Mr Joyce told the trial that, later in the evening, they all walked from Lockhart’s and Griffiths’ home towards Alfreton.
He said: “Clearly Lockhart fell out with Daniel Baker over something.
“Motive is not important. Was it about MCAT? It does not matter.
“Was it because Lockhart was possessive of Michaela? It does not matter.
“Something happened, something Michaela saw.”
Lockhart and Griffiths were arrested separately on July 21.
Lockhart was discovered by a police tracking dog hiding under a lorry.
He had hidden a white drawstring bag which Mr Joyce said was used to carry the knife that was used on Mr Baker.
During interviews, Lockhart answered “no comment” to all police questions and only explained his actions when he took the stand at the trial.
Shaun Smith QC asked his client about the night Mr Baker died.
He said: “Did you ever want to hurt Mr Baker? Did you ever want to see him dead?”
Lockhart answered: “No and no.”
Mr Smith asked: “So why did you stab him?”
Lockhart said: “I was defending myself. I walked off then heard my name so turned around and he grabbed me.
“He had a knife in his hand and pointed it towards me.
“I didn’t know what to do. I tried to pull away but he grabbed me back and I stabbed him. It all happened in seconds.”
Before the jury entered the courtroom to deliver their verdict yesterday, the full public gallery was warned that any outbursts would see people thrown out of the courtroom.
Justice John Royce said: “It is important that you all behave in a proper manner even though feelings are running high.”
