Last updated at 09:57, Sunday, 19 October 2008

A Carlisle man has been found guilty of manslaughter after he killed his uncle with a deadly headlock.

Edward Celmins

Edward Celmins, 25, crushed the life out of 46-year-old Karl Celmins when they “scuffled” at the older man’s flat in Morton after an afternoon spent drinking.

Celmins, of Richmond Green, denied the charge during a trial at the city’s Crown Court this week.

He claimed he had been trying to defend himself when his uncle lunged at him after earlier brandishing a knife.

At the city’s crown court yesterday afternoon, there were emotional scenes as the jury of five men and seven women announced their verdict after five hours and 43 minutes of deliberation.

In tears, the jury forewoman confirmed the 11-1 majority guilty verdict. Celmins shook his head and his girlfriend Rebecca Little, sitting with friends in the public gallery, sobbed as the judge asked the forewoman to confirm the verdict.

During the five-day trial, Celmins insisted that he had left his uncle’s flat in Stonegarth believing he had only knocked him out.

He said he loved his uncle, the two men having been brought closer by a family tragedy that robbed Edward Celmins of his parents and Karl of a cherished brother and sister-in-law.

But the jury yesterday rejected Edward Celmins’ claim that this was a tragedy born out of his attempt at self-defence.

Remanding Celmins in custody, Judge Paul Batty QC told him: “You have been convicted by jury of the crime of manslaughter and it is plainly a serious offence.

“I’m afraid that having regard to the nature of the crime and all that I know about this case and about you, I am not prepared to take the risk of admitting you to bail.”

He ordered background reports and commented that a jail term was inevitable.

The drink-fuelled confrontation that was to end in Karl Celmins death happened on Saturday, April 26.

Celmins had visited his uncle Karl at his Morton home and spent some time drinking with him.

But Karl Celmins had a serious alcohol problem and Edward Celmins had been drinking more heavily in the wake of losing his parents Christine and Edward in a road accident last year.

Tim Holroyde QC, prosecuting, said that Edward Celmins later told police that he had drunk 11 cans of lager by the time of the killing.

Blood specimens confirmed both men were just over three times the legal limit for driving.

Celmins told officers that while at the flat his uncle had begun talking about a ring.

It originally belonged to Karl Celmins’ dead mother and was at some stage given to the defendant’s mother.

Celmins told police that his uncle wanted it back because it had been his mother’s and he had assured him he would get it back for him.

Karl Celmins was then said to have taken a swing at his nephew with a kitchen knife – but both men had then sat down again.

A short time later Karl Celmins told his nephew to get his cans and leave.

Edward Celmins then said his uncle had jumped on him and there was the scuffle.

The fatal headlock cut off Karl Celmins’ air supply and fractured neck cartilage. The cause of death was compression of the neck.

Celmins spoke twice to his partner, Rebecca Little, by phone that day.

The second time he said his uncle had tried to stab him and had ripped his top.

She asked him if his uncle was okay. Celmins replied he did not know and said he was on his way home.

Miss Little – who said the two men had seen more of each other following the death of Celmins’ parents and that the younger man “loved his uncle” – went round to Karl Celmins’ flat and found the door ajar.

She went in and found Karl lying on the floor with a knife close by. She felt for a pulse but could not find one.

She dialled 999 and attempted to resuscitate Mr Celmins. Ambulance crews said he was dead when they arrived.

Celmins, the court heard, rang a friend and later handed himself in to police.

He told officers he had not used much force, adding that what happened was an accident and that he was acting in self defence.

During the trial, Celmins told the jury: “I wasn’t going to take a chance. He came at me with a knife the first time. I could have been the unlucky one.

“I wanted to stop him causing any damage to me. I just wanted to get him in a headlock – just to restrain him, stop him from being violent. I didn’t think I used that much force.”

But during the trial, an expert told the court Celmins had probably used “considerable force”.

Celmins will be sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court on Friday, November 28.

First published at 10:10, Saturday, 18 October 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk