Gordon Locke, 28, was found guilty of murdering 43-year-old Gordon Farnes during the morning of 17 July 2018.
Relatives of Mr Farnes had received a distressed phone call from him telling them he had been seriously injured. They entered his flat, in Sherwood Road, Tunbridge Wells and found him lying on the floor and unresponsive.
Police were called and on arrival discovered the victim had been stabbed twice in the torso. The knife had entered his liver and heart and Mr Farnes died at the scene. Locke, aged 28, had been staying in his partner’s flat, which was located above Mr Farnes and was arrested shortly after police arrived. A search led to the recovery of the knife from a back garden. Blood stained clothing was also seized from the flat where Locke had been staying.
He was subsequently charged with murder and remanded into custody. During a trial at Maidstone Crown Court Locke pleaded not guilty. The court heard the victim had made previous complaints about noise coming from the flat above and that in the days leading up to his death had spent time away from his own property, due to the distress it had been causing. Evidence was also heard that Locke had been under the influence of drugs and alcohol when he carried out the attack.
Detective Inspector Chris Greenstreet of the Major Crime Unit said: “Gordon Locke’s senseless actions have had a devastating impact on Mr Farnes’ family. His act of needless and appalling violence has deprived them of a much-loved son, brother and nephew. Nothing will ever bring Mr Farnes back to those who loved him, however I hope this sentence will bring a degree of comfort to his family in this incredibly difficult time for them.”
