Father and guard son jailed for murder after attacking thief with knife and ninja sword | UK News

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David King and his son Edward kill Neil Charles after CCTV alerts him that there is a thief operating in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

Monday, April 24, 2023, 19:03, UK

A father and son are convicted of killing a thief in a vigilante attack with a ninja sword and knife.

He killed David King and his son Edward Neil Charles after being alerted by CCTV that there was a burglar operating in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

Suffolk Police said Mr Charles – who had a number of previous convictions for theft and burglary – was trying to open car and home doors on the night he was stabbed to death in June 2021.

The force added that the Kings – who were “fascinated with guns” – did not attempt to contact the police before carrying out the killing and were “out to take the law into their own hands”.

Convicted of murder after a trial at Ipswich Crown Court, a judge sentenced the two men to life in prison on Monday.

David King was jailed for at least 21 years, while his son Edward received a prison sentence of at least 19 years.

The two men did not show any reaction while they were taken to the cells.

A fatal blow from a double-edged combat knife

On the night of the murder, David King armed himself with a dagger-like double-edged combat knife, which was used to inflict a fatal wound on Sir Charles.

Edward King, a Tesco worker—who was 18 at the time of the murder—brought a 27-inch ninja sword which struck Sir Charles above his left knee during the attack.

The sword was also used to stab the victim’s bicycle tire, which he left at the scene.

Police said Mr Charles was some distance from the Kings’ property and was heading away from it when the father and son caught up to him.

An autopsy found that the 47-year-old man, from Bury St Edmunds, died of a single 12cm wound to his chest.

Image: Neil Charles was attacked with a double-edged knife and a ninja sword. Pic: Suffolk Police

David King made a call to 999 shortly before 4 am on June 20, 2021, to tell police that a man was attempting to steal from his car on the Moreton Hall property.

He said he tried to catch the alleged thief who got away.

He also admitted to holding a knife in his hand and told the operator that the man claimed he had sustained gun wounds before fleeing.

Officers found David King on Winsford Road, far from his address and the scene of the stabbing.

The victim was discovered in another part of Winsford Road and was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital but died two days later.

The Kings had a “clear intention” to confront the criminals

David King was arrested at the scene, while Edward was arrested by police later that day.

Suffolk Police said analysis of the Kings’ text messages showed they were “fascinated by weapons and, following previous thefts in the area, have a clear intent and desire to deal with any criminals they consider themselves”.

The father and son, both from Radnor Close in Bury St Edmunds, were re-arrested in October 2021 and charged with first degree murder.

At their trial, David King, 56, and his 20-year-old son, Edward, denied intentionally killing Mr Charles.

David King alleged that he had disturbed Sir Charles as he tried to break into his car and that the suspected thief had impaled his knife.

Suffolk Police said prosecutors said the two men went together “to pursue and attack Mr Charles in what can only be described as an act of vigilantism”.

A jury found David and Edward King guilty of murder by unanimous verdict in May last year.

Photo: David King (left) and his son Edward (right) were found guilty of murder

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Murder victim ‘nice and sweet’

Lynette Booth, teaching assistant, sister to Mr Charles, said in a victim impact statement that he was a “kind, gentle person” who was “never aggressive and always backed down when he didn’t like the situation”.

She said he was due to marry his fiancee, Michelle Jackson, in August 2021.

“We know he took the wrong path in life, but he was not violent or aggressive and that night he was simply trying to escape,” said Mrs. Booth.

Mrs. Jackson described Charles as “loving, caring and gentle”.

Heather King, David King’s wife and Edward King’s mother, said in a statement that they are “in the process of contesting” the convictions.

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