A man accused of stabbing someone to death on a nightclub dancefloor because he was “standing in his spot” has been found guilty.

Edward Wilson, 39, killed Akeem Francis-Kerr with a single stab to the neck at Valesha’s nightclub in Walsall just after 5am on 11 March.

The 29-year-old died within an hour of being stabbed in the neck after the knife pierced both his carotid and jugular veins in what prosecutors say was a dispute over who was standing where in the nightclub.

Prosecutor Maria Karaiskos KC told the jury at Stafford Crown Court Wilson stabbed Mr Francis-Kerr on the dancefloor “out of anger, arrogance or jealousy” after returning from the toilet to find him talking to two women in an area of the club where Wilson had been standing since he arrived an hour before.

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During his own evidence, Wilson admitted the pair had had an “altercation” and exchanged blows, but denied stabbing Mr Francis-Kerr, saying he did not even know there had been a stabbing until his friend admitted he may have “got” him when they had left the club.

When asked by his defence barrister Nigel Edwards KC why he did not tell police the truth if he knew his friend had admitted stabbing Mr Francis-Kerr, Wilson said he was afraid it would put his son and his mother in danger.

He said: “If I told the truth at that precise moment, it would put my family’s lives, my mum’s life, my son’s life, in danger.

“Just now, today, is the first time I’ve told anyone I knew what happened. I’ve got my son, my mum to think about. I need to get back to them, so I’m going to say it now.”

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Killer faces life in prison

The jury found Wilson guilty of murder after just over 13 hours of deliberations.

Mr Francis-Kerr’s loved ones cried and whispered “yes” as the verdict was returned.

Judge Kristina Montgomery told Wilson he would be sentenced next Wednesday at the same court and warned him he would be facing life imprisonment.

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