Two men found guilty of murdering man in Preston
Lee Dawson suffered fatal stab wounds after being attacked on 17 June 2022
Last updated 3rd Feb 2023
Two men have been found guilty of murdering a man in Preston last year.
Lee Dawson, 42, suffered several stab wounds after being attacked on Jutland Street in the early hours of 17 June 2022.
Benjamin Bibby, 21, of Dawson Walk, Preston and Andrew Wilcock, 29, of Lincoln Walk, Preston were convicted of murder by a jury at Preston Crown Court following a three-week trial.
Robert Cross, 34, of Milner Street, Preston was found guilty of manslaughter but cleared of murder.
Kerry-Ann Metcalf, 39, of Dawson Walk, Preston, was found guilty of assisting an offender.
Stuart Brown, 37, of Dawson Walk, Preston was found not guilty of murder and manslaughter.
Lee had been asked to leave a party on Driscoll Street after punching Bibby in the face.
Bibby and Wilcock left the party, armed themselves with knives, covered their faces and returned to the area.
They then confronted Lee in the street and swung their knives at him, before they were joined by Cross who was in the area.
Lee was chased and attacked as he reached Jutland Street.
He suffered several knife wounds - a 16cm wound to his chest cavity proved fatal.
Bibby, Wilcock, Cross and Metcalf will be sentenced on Tuesday 14 February.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Haworth-Oates of Lancashire Police's Force Major Investigation Team said:
"We welcome the jury's verdict.
"This was a cowardly, senseless attack led by Bibby and Wilcock who planned, waited and executed a brutal attack on Mr Dawson.
"Hopefully the convictions bring a feeling of justice for Lee's family.
"My thoughts are with them at this time and we look forward to the sentencing to bring the case to a close."