St Neots man convicted of murder for stabbing girlfriend's ex-partner '15 times' in 'frenzied attack'
Robert Parkins, 33, was found guilty today (August 19) at the Old Bailey for murdering his partner's ex-partner in a vicious dispute
Aine Fox
Alex Fitzpatrick, 30, from Huntingdon was killed in Eaton Socon on Sunday night (October 13) (Image: Cambridge news)
A man has been convicted of the stabbing murder of his girlfriend's ex-partner after a family row.
Alex Fitzpatrick, 30, was knifed repeatedly in the neck and chest outside the home of his former partner Kelly Anderson in St Neots, Cambridgeshire.
Robert Parkins, 33, was found guilty by a jury at the Old Bailey on Wednesday after they had deliberated for just over two-and-a-half hours.
His trial heard how he fled the scene and discarded the knife he had used, with the prosecutor telling the court there had been "animosity" between Mr Fitzpatrick and Parkins.
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Last September, the victim had taken news of Parkins moving in with Ms Anderson and his nine-year-old son "badly" and had "made his thoughts and feelings clear", the trial heard.
On the afternoon of Sunday October 13, Mr Fitzpatrick, originally from Cornwall, had dropped his son home after taking him swimming.
Alex Fitzpatrick and his son
He returned on his motorbike after Ms Anderson found that her son had forgotten his glasses.
A row broke out, with Mr Fitzpatrick refusing to hand over the boy's spectacles, jurors heard.
Ms Anderson took the child inside before Parkins went outside and stabbed Mr Fitzpatrick repeatedly with a knife.
A post mortem examination revealed he suffered 15 stab wounds including to the chest and neck area as well as two incised slashed wounds.
He was pronounced dead at the scene despite efforts to save him.
Parkins ran to his sister's home and called for a lift to a property in Pymmes Brook House, London where he was later arrested by police.
Paying tribute to their son, parents Mary Reading and Dave Fitzpatrick said: "Alex was a loving and devoted father, son and brother to his eight siblings.
"He was always there for us and tried to better himself every day.
"After hearing the evidence and the injuries Alex sustained, today's result is such a relief for us all."
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Superintendent Michael Branston said: "This was a brutal, frenzied and sustained attack resulting in the death of a man whose son will now grow up without his father in his life.
"Our deepest sympathies go out to Alex's family. I hope today's verdict will provide them with some assistance as they learn to live with this tragedy."
Parkins, from St Neots, is due to be sentenced at the same court on Monday.
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