• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Vigilante father and son jailed for life after murdering thief using ninja sword

Home> News

Updated 10:15 25 Apr 2023 GMT+1Published 09:43 25 Apr 2023 GMT+1

Vigilante father and son jailed for life after murdering thief using ninja sword

The father and son had been trying to catch a thief

Ali Condon

Ali Condon

A father and son have been handed life sentences after murdering a thief who had been operating in their neighbourhood.

David King, 56, and his son Edward, 20, were convicted of the murder of 47-year-old Neil Charles, after attacking him with a ninja sword and a knife.

The 'vigilante' father and son had been alerted to a thief trying to open doors on cars and houses on their estate, and decided to take action themselves.

David King was sentenced to a minimum of 21 years behind bars.
Suffolk Police

Advert

Suffolk police say that David and Edward, who had a 'fascination with weapons', didn't bother to contact the police and decided to 'take the law into their own hands.'

On the night of the attack, back in June 2021, David used a double-edged knife while his son Edward armed himself with a 27-inch ninja sword.

Neil Charles, who had a number of previous convictions relating to burglary and theft, died from a 12cm stab wound in the chest.

His knee had also been sliced by the ninja sword.

Ipswich Crown Court heard that police eventually received a 999 call from David just before 4am on 20 June, reporting that a man had tried to steal his car.

Advert

He claimed over the phone that he had tried to chase after the thief, but he had run off.

The father also told the call centre that he had a knife in his hand, but couldn't tell if the thief was 'play acting' or genuinely injured when he claimed he had been hurt by the weapon.

Edward, who was 18 at the time of the attack, was armed with a ninja sword.
Suffolk Police

When officers arrived on the scene, they found David King away from his home address, and where the stabbing had taken place.

Officers say they found Mr Charles in Winsford Road seriously wounded and that he died two days later in hospital.

Advert

While David was arrested at the scene, his son Edward was detained by police later that day.

David and Edward denied the intentional killing of Mr Charles, but both were convicted in May 2022.

They have since been handed life sentences.

While David was sentenced to a minimum of 21 years behind bars, his son Edward will serve a minimum of 19.

Prosecutor Richard Kelly described the incident as 'vigilante behaviour', claiming that the father and son were 'looking to exact violence upon the thief'.

Advert

In his ruling, Judge Martyn Levett agreed that the father and son had gone out 'with the intention of hunting down Mr Charles and at least causing him really serious harm.'

Neil Charles died of a 12 cm stab wound to his chest.
Suffolk Police

In a victim impact statement, Linnet Booth, the sister of Mr Charles, described him as a 'kind and gentle person' who was 'never aggressive and always one to retreat when he didn't like a situation'.

She said: "We know he took the wrong path in life but he wasn't violent or aggressive and that night he was simply trying to get away."

Heather King, the wife of David and mother of Edward, has said in a statement that they were 'in the process of appealing' the convictions.

Featured Image Credit: Suffolk Police

Topics: UK News, Crime

Ali Condon
Ali Condon

Ali is a journalist for LADbible Group, writing on all things film, music, and entertainment across Tyla, LADbible and UNILAD. You can contact Ali at [email protected].

X

@alicondon

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

9 hours ago
10 hours ago
12 hours ago
  • (Kevin Trimmer/Getty Images)(Kevin Trimmer/Getty Images)
    9 hours ago

    Gel nail polish now banned in Europe due to toxic ingredient

    Make sure you take note of this ingredient

    News
  • (Alex Wong/Getty Images)(Alex Wong/Getty Images)
    9 hours ago

    Internet spots the same detail about Trump's hands at first press conference since 'death' rumours

    The president brushed the rumours off as 'so fake'

    News
  • (MARK GARLICK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images)(MARK GARLICK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images)
    10 hours ago

    NASA says asteroid will fly startlingly close to Earth at speeds of over 28,000mph

    Don't worry, the asteroid won't crash into Earth

    News
  • Houston Police DepartmentHouston Police Department
    12 hours ago

    11-year-old boy dies in 'knock down ginger' prank gone wrong

    The boy sadly died in hospital following the incident

    News
  • Man found guilty of murdering 14-year-old boy he nearly decapitated with samurai sword
  • Man who fatally stabbed daughter during kitchen ‘play-fight’ jailed for life
  • Grandad speaks out after dad who fatally stabbed daughter during kitchen ‘play-fight’ jailed for life
  • Police investigating after son of former UFC star attacks wrestler on live stream