Park-drinking bully guilty of murdering Leeds man after 'leaving him for dead'
A man has been found guilty of murdering a drinking pal, strangling him and then “leaving him for dead” as a fire raged in his home.
William Joyce has been on trial at Leeds Crown Court, accused of killing 53-year-old Darren Leach, having gone to his home looking for alcohol, cigarettes or money.
Joyce, 38, was caught on CCTV leaving Mr Leach’s home on Marston Grove, Beeston hours before his body was found, having bullied him for money in previous days .
His fingerprints were found on a can of beer in the property, and when he left Mr Leach’s home, he was carrying Mr Leach’s TV in a bag.
Joyce accepted it was him leaving the house, but denied killing Mr Leach. However, he refused to give evidence during the nine-day trial at Leeds Crown Court.
The jury unanimously found him guilty of murder after deliberating for around a day. He was also found guilty of theft of Mr Leach’s TV.
Joyce, of Woodview Terrace, Beeston, faces a mandatory life sentence, but a minimum term will be set by the judge.
Held on remand, he will be returned to court next Wednesday, November 12, to be sentenced.
Mr Leach’s body had been found by friends in his house on the morning of March 19.
He was found next to a smouldering sofa, but it is not known if the blaze was sparked intentionally or by accident.
Pathology reports suggested heavy drinker Mr Leach died from smoke inhalation caused by the burning sofa after he possibly fell asleep drunk.
It was later found that he had suffered significant injuries prior to death, including a broken neck and voice box - consistent with being strangled - and abrasions to his eye and face.
Experts later put his cause of death down to a “degree” of carbon monoxide, the assault he sustained and the amount of alcohol in his system.
Prosecutor, David Brooke KC, said Mr Leach would regularly drink with friends in Cross Flatts Park, a short distance from his house.
CCTV recovered showed 38-year-old William Joyce - also known locally as “Irish” - talking with Mr Leach outside Mr Leach’s home shortly before 5pm on March 18.
They both went inside and Joyce emerged about an hour later carrying a yellow bag that contained Mr Leach’s 22-inch TV.
No other person was seen to enter the house after Joyce left.
The court heard that Mr Leach had confided in a friend on the afternoon of March 18 that he was being picked on for money, and when asked, he said it was Irish (Joyce) who was badgering him.
The court heard that Joyce had punched Mr Leach on a previous occasion.
The witness said Mr Leach had a large bundle of cash on him the days before his death, which has never been found.
Joyce was later arrested and gave a no-comment interview to police.