Cannabis-smoking teenager who stabbed a father with a foot-long machete in an 'act of revenge' after he had confronted him for doing drugs in a playground is convicted of murder
- Tieran Carmody, 19, stabbed Max Richardson, 35, in Harlow, Essex
- Mr Richardson, who was engaged, died in an ambulance on the way to hospital
A pot-smoking teenager who stabbed a father with a foot-long machete in an 'act of revenge' after he was approached for scaring children at a playground was convicted of murder today.
Two couples went up to Tieran Carmody, 19, who threw a punch at Max Richardson, before they and another man ended up rolling on the ground.
The teenager then walked towards his bicycle where he grabbed the blade and stabbed 'defenceless' Mr Richardson in front of a 'screaming' child – despite his terrified victim raising his hands 'in surrender'.
Carmody calmly pedalled away from the play area at Joyner's Field in Harlow, Essex, afterwards and went into hiding.
Tieran Carmody, 19, who stabbed a father with a foot-long machete in an 'act of revenge' after he was approached for scaring children at a playground was convicted of murder today
Max Richardson was engaged to be married, died in an ambulance on the way to hospital, after he was stabbed in front of a 'screaming' child
Mr Richardson, who was engaged to be married, died in an ambulance on the way to hospital.
His killer denied murder was but convicted unanimously by a jury after less than seven hours' deliberation.
There was a gasp from members of Mr Richardson's family at Chelmsford Crown Court when the verdict was announced.
Several members of Carmody's family – and co-defendant Harrison Barnett, 19, who was convicted of perverting the course of justice – wept. Two hurriedly left court but returned to watch the pair sent down.
Judge Charles Gratwicke, who adjourned sentencing for reports to be made, said: 'You, Tieran Carmody, have been convicted by the jury of the brutal murder of Max Richardson.
'I say nothing further in relation to that matter, save to say this – you will no doubt be advised to serve a sentence of life in prison.'
Barnett was also remanded in custody to await sentencing for his 'most serious offence'.
Carmody calmly pedalled away from the play area (above) at Joyner's Field in Harlow, Essex, afterwards and went into hiding
screen grab from CCTV issued by Essex Police of Tieran Carmody, 19, who has been found guilty of the murder of Max Richardson, 35, at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday.
Screen grab from CCTV issued by Essex Police of Tieran Carmody, 19, and Harrison Barnett, 19.
Opening the case in early April, prosecutor Andrew Jackson said the defendant, who was 18 at the time of the attack, was 'simply not willing to be challenged on what he was doing' at the playground.
CCTV footage showed him walking near the playground after 11pm on August 17 last year. The prosecution said it was to 'buy or sell some drugs'.
Four days later Carmody was seen smoking cannabis in the area by children, who alerted grown-ups because they were 'frightened'.
They told resident Mark Campbell and his wife Vicky, who were accompanied by their friend Mr Richardson and his partner.
The group asked the defendant 'What are you doing?', prompting the melee before the defendant grabbed the machete from a bag on his bike.
Mr Jackson described how the couples raised their hands in the air, adding: 'They were surrendering. It demonstrated that they did not have any intention of harming the man who had a machete.
'The defendant had every intention of himself causing harm with that machete. He walked past Mr Campbell with the machete and said to him he was now going to 'f*** him up'.
'He walked to Mr Richardson, who had got to his feet and had his hands in the air. He was defenceless.'
Mr Jackson added: 'This was not done in self-defence as there was no attack and there had never been one. There was no need to defend himself.
'It was a calculated decision to show that no one should question Carmody about what he was doing. It was an act of revenge.'
Opening the case in early April, prosecutor Andrew Jackson said the defendant, who was 18 at the time of the attack, was 'simply not willing to be challenged on what he was doing' at the playground. Police at the scene in Joyner's Field in Harlow, Essex
CCTV footage showed him walking near the playground after 11pm on August 17 last year. The prosecution said it was to 'buy or sell some drugs'
An audio recording from a mobile phone was also played to the court in which a woman said: 'Babe, he's got a knife.' A child could be heard screaming
Mr Richardson, 35, of Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, could be heard in doorbell camera footage saying 'Oy, come on mate – what are you doing?'.
An audio recording from a mobile phone was also played to the court in which a woman said: 'Babe, he's got a knife.' A child could be heard screaming.
Mr Richardson was stabbed in the stomach with a 'forceful blow without any warning' and died from the wound on his way to hospital.
After the fatal assault, Carmody, of Harlow, spent the night at home before taking a taxi to his friend Barnett's home in Basildon. He booked several haircuts in an attempt to change his appearance.
Barnett was described as a 'willing' accomplice, who helped him avoid arrest for six days and carried out searches on his phone including 'What is a serious assault?' and 'Where can I travel without a passport?'
Mr Richardson's family declined to comment after the hearing.
After his death, they released a statement which said: 'Our beloved Max. Son. Fiance. Brother. Friend. Taken too soon from us all. Max, the life and soul of us.
'Always will be in the hearts of his family and his children who miss him dearly. Words cannot describe the pain we are all feeling right now.
'He will be solely remembered for the person that he was. Funny, caring and always there for his children.
'Rest in peace now our beloved Max, always and forever in our thoughts and hearts.'
Essex Police plan to release a statement after sentencing, which is expected in July.
Judge Gratwicke thanked the jury for sitting through the 'distressing evidence'.
