Westcliff murderers break down in tears and storm out of court

Wesley Hendrickson and Leon Wright murdered Asqeri Spaho at the house in Tintern Avenue, Westcliff on December 12, 2019.

Wright, 31, of Highbury New Park, collapsed in the dock with his head in his hands after the jury of eight men and four women confirmed their verdicts at Basildon Crown Court.

He was consoled by Brian Kinloch, his co-defendant, as he was lead away by dock officers.

Hendrickson, 31, of Ashford Cresent in Enfield, showed no emotion as his guilty verdicts for murder, attempted murder, and aggravated burglary were read out.

Killer - Wesley Hendrickson

However, after co-defendant Scott Heaney was acquitted of murder and attempted murder, he stormed out of the dock.

The duo, along with four other men, had denied driving from London to Westcliff armed with swords and equipment to steal the cannabis plants.

They stabbed Mr Spaho and another man who were working as gardeners in the farm.

Convicted - Leon Wright

Det Insp Greg Wood, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “These men devised a plan to break into the address and steal the drugs being grown inside.

“The fact they armed themselves with weapons indicates they were prepared to use violence and once inside Wright and Hendrickson violently assaulted the two men they found there leaving, Asqeri Spaho to die.

“This is a dangerous group of men who are now facing a significant amount of time in prison.”

Mitchell Harris, 29, of no fixed address, Scott Heaney 22, of Hurlock Street, Highbury, Brian Kinloch, 31, of Beachcroft Way, Upper Holloway, and Durald Sokoli, 27, of Ayley Croft, Enfield, were acquitted by the jury of murder and attempted murder but were convicted of aggravated burglary.

They will be sentenced tomorrow.

Crime - The murder scene