Bristol man convicted of murdering 'friend'
Lee Llewellyn will be sentenced for the fatal stabbing today
A man has been convicted of murdering a friend at a house in Bradley Stoke.
Lee Llewellyn used a knife to kill 32-year-old Martin Hefferman.
Mr Hefferman, from Fishponds, was killed at a house in Honeysuckle Close during the early hours of Saturday 18 November 2023.
Llewellyn had denied one count of murder, but was convicted by jurors following a nine-day trial at Bristol Crown Court.
The 51-year-old, of Froomshaw Road in Bristol, was remanded ahead of sentencing today.
The jury was told Llewellyn and Martin Hefferman had been at the address with two women, one of which owned the property, for approximately 48 hours before the tragic incident occurred.
A quantity of alcohol and drugs had been consumed during that time.
Neither of the women saw the fatal stabbing, but told police they had heard an argument between the two men downstairs shortly beforehand.
When police arrived, Llewellyn told officers he had ‘stabbed the guy’ and he had sustained rib injuries in an altercation with Mr Hefferman before picking up the knife.
On being transported to the police car he said he hoped Mr Hefferman survived because he did not want ‘no murder charge’.
He also told officers: “I didn’t mean to do it but he attacked me.”
When in custody though, he replied ‘no comment’ to all questions.
In court Llewellyn claimed the death was as a result of an accident.
Mr Hefferman was pronounced dead at the scene by ambulance staff.
A pathologist’s report concluded Mr Hefferman died of a single stab wound to his upper chest, damaging his heart.
Detective Inspector Mark Newbury, of the Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “It’s clear there was a dispute between Lee Llewellyn and Martin Hefferman in the moments before the murder took place.
“Whatever caused that argument cannot justify the conscious decision Llewellyn made to grab a knife, which he used to kill Martin.
“It may have been a decision made in the heat of the moment, but it is inconceivable he would not have recognised bringing a knife into the argument could have tragic consequences. Sadly, that proved the case.
“He then made several telling admissions to police after being arrested."