Row over Westlife CD led to stab attack

A MAN was left fighting for his life after two men stabbed him in his own home after a row over a Westlife CD.

Wayne Sharman (25), of The Pentlands, Gunthorpe, and Kevin McGinty (27), of London Road, Peterborough, were both found guilty of wounding with intent after a two-week trial.

The jury of six men and six women took a day-and-a-half to decide if Sharman and McGinty were guilty of repeatedly stabbing Craig Holman in his Hampton home.

They were cleared of robbery.

A third man, Geoffrey Watson (36) of Cock Close Road, Yaxley, was found not guilty of both robbery and wounding with intent and an alternative charge of unlawful wounding.

After the hearing, investigating officer Detective Constable Kevin Pool welcomed the convictions.

He said: “This was an extremely serious assault which could have resulted in the death of the victim.

“He is still affected to this day by what happened but I hope these convictions and the sentences to come will allow him to move on knowing that justice has been done.”

Mr Holman invited the three men back to his house after meeting them on a night out.

They continued drinking at his Hampton home but things turned nasty over his choice of a Westlife CD.

He was knifed twice in the leg and once to his stomach as well as repeatedly punched in the face.

Mr Holman, giving evidence, told the court that the men had demanded money from him which he refused to give.

But when his dog was threatened he gave up and told them where he stashed £1,000, though the court found all three not guilty of robbery.

Speaking early last week, Mr Holman said: “I remember being pinned down by somebody and doing what he can to get the money out of me.

“Another guy was standing, not really involved, just shouting, ‘give it up, give it up’.”

He later said: “It all happened so quickly, I lost so much blood I was delirious.

“I tried to leg it out my house but I got dragged back by the people trying to do it.”

Mr Holman was left in hospital for a week.

The jury listened to eight days of evidence including hearing from the victim and all three defendants.

They heard that Mr Holman still has flashbacks to the attack.

On Thursday they retired at 11am, not returning the verdict until Friday at about 2pm.

There was celebration in the packed public gallery when the foreman delivered a not guilty verdict on the robbery.

But when Sharman and McGinty were convicted of wounding with intent there was a hushed silence which turned to sobs. They will be sentenced on Friday.

Source: peterboroughtoday.co.uk