A man has been found guilty of stabbing another man to death in a brutal drug-related murder - leaving his victim to die under a disused railway bridge.
Jurors at Reading Crown Court deliberated for around five hours before returning a guilty verdict against Tyrell James, 24, of Patrick Haugh Road, Arncott.
James set upon Karl Stanislaus, 44, in Bowden Lane, High Wycombe, on September 5 last year - leaving him with 56 knife wounds.
The defendant is a self-confessed drug dealer, and the prosecution in the case have charged that the killing was drug-related.
A CCTV camera at a nearby bakery picked up harrowing audio from the attack. In the recording, Mr Stanislaus can be heard begging for his life.
James alleged during the trial that he had conspired with Mr Stanislaus to rob a rival drug dealer, and that this scheme was foiled - leading to a confrontation between the two men.
By James' account, he was then forced to stab the victim in self-defence.
The prosecution in the case rubbished these claims, suggesting James had gone to Bowden Lane with the intention of murdering Mr Stanislaus.
They noted evidence of pre-planning, including the fact that he changed into a different outfit before the stabbing - and that he contacted another man afterwards to ask if he could wash his clothes.
He initially denied any knowledge of the murder to police.
The court heard that, just after the stabbing, James went to a nearby gym - and was spotted working out there the following morning.
Today (March 27), Judge Heather Norton commended jurors for their service throughout the weeks-long trial. She told them: "Have a very good Easter, have a very good break. And try to put this case behind you, if you can."
In addition to the murder conviction, James has also pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and possession of a kitchen knife in a public place. These are in connection with a separate incident on December 27, 2022.
Judge Norton set a sentencing date in the case for April 30.
Addressing the defendant, she made clear he was facing a lengthy sentence. The judge told James: "There is only one sentence in law that can be passed upon you. That is the sentence of life imprisonment."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article