A man who carried out a brutal claw hammer attack on his friend, in Acton, has been found guilty of his murder.
Giuseppe Lomedico was convicted by an Old Bailey jury on Wednesday (October 7), following a two-week trial.
The 55-year-old had admitted bludgeoning to death Terry Longman at the victim’s home in Cumberland Park on March 24, but denied the murder charge, claiming self defence and loss of control.
The trial ran from September 21 to October 2, with the jury returning its verdict after more than two full days of deliberation.
Lomedico, of no fixed abode, will be sentenced on Monday (October 12).
The court heard how he and the victim had a history of drink and drug issues.
The dad-of-four, originally from Italy, had walked into Acton police station at around 9.40pm on March 24 to tell officers that he had gone to visit Mr Longman, 50, and found him with “his head open”.
He led officers to the scene and they discovered the deceased with his face covered, and a substantial amount of blood on the wall and floors. The hammer was left beside the body, the court heard.
Lomedico denied responsibility but was arrested and, several days later while being held in remand at Wormwood Scrubs Prison, told guards in bizarre circumstances that he killed the man.
The court heard Lomedico had cut his wrist open and smeared his blood over his face in the cell. He later admitted killing Mr Longman, saying he had awoken with the victim in an aroused state thrusting and grinding against his body. The defendant said he feared he would be raped.
Lomedico tried to escape but Mr Longman came at him with a screwdriver. He used a knife first to try a ward off Mr Longman, the court heard, before striking him with the hammer at least 13 times.
But the prosecution said this was not true.
The court heard Lomedico took his victim’s bank and Oyster cards and mobile phone before leaving his property and wandering the streets for around five hours before going to the police station. CCTV footage shows him trying to sell Mr Longman’s phone in Cash Converters.
The prosecutor also spoke of “silent witnesses”, such as blood splatter on the walls, which indicated the defendant had not been moving when hit.
She said he "embellished and fabricated stories" and added: “The only intent this man had was to kill. He is quite simply guilty of murder.”
Lomedico will be sentenced by Judge Michael Topolski QC.
