Life for martial arts expert who killed in jealous rage
editorial@hamhigh.co.uk
11 February 2005
James Anderson, who fled to Spain after the killing
ON A hot Thursday night in August 2000, Paul Napoleon Wright went for a drink at the Castle Pub in Finchley Road. The 26-year-old builder’s family had just moved into the area and were looking forward to a life in Child’s Hill. But early the next morning, their dream was shattered when Paul died at the Royal Free Hospital after being stabbed in the head and back. The murder sent shock waves through the normally peaceful area of Child’s Hill as police hunted Paul’s killer. It took four-and-a-half years for justice to be done, but on Friday, James Anderson, 26, of Fellows Road, Swiss Cottage, was found guilty of Paul’s murder and caged for life.
Southwark Crown Court heard that on August 17 2000 Anderson, a martial arts expert, was in The Castle pub with friends.
Fearing he would be searched by the police, Anderson handed a hunting knife to a friend who immediately handed it back. Anderson then became jealous of the way another man in the pub was behaving towards a girl he liked. Detective Constable Robert Copley, of the specialist crime directorate at Hendon, followed the case from start to finish.
He said: "He (Anderson) attacked the other man, headbutting him and putting him into a stranglehold, almost rendering him unconscious. “The man was able to free himself and as he ran away, Anderson threw the hunting knife at him.” The victim hid in a house in nearby Cloister Road, chased by Anderson and three other men who tried to entice him to come outside. DC Copley added: “Anderson by this time was pacing up and down the alleyway by the side of the house in a rage and had removed his upper clothing.” As Anderson’s friends tried to calm him down, word reached The Castle pub that there was trouble in Cloister Road.
Paul Wright feared his brother could be involved and went to help him. Tragically, he did not realise his brother was not involved and had already gone home. When Paul and two friends reached Cloister Road, Anderson, now fully dressed, was still pacing up and down. Paul confronted Anderson about his brother and his killer stepped forward and plunged his knife into his victim’s skull twice. As Paul fell forward, Anderson stabbed him in the back, severing an artery.
Anderson would later claim in court that he acted in self-defence because he was about to be attacked with a pint glass. Paul was taken to the Royal Free Hospital and Anderson fled, leaving a trail of blood at the scene from a cut in his hand. The court heard that Anderson stayed at a relative’s house before travelling to Tralee in Ireland where he got a passport and went to Spain. Police inquiries revealed that Anderson had been arrested in Spain on at least two occasions giving false details.
The allegations against Anderson were in connection with assaults in which the victims had been stabbed, but Anderson was never found guilty. The arrests allowed police to execute extradition warrants for Anderson in mid-2002. Spanish authorities finally released Anderson to the Met in 2004. Forensic experts matched Anderson’s blood with samples found at the scene and his three-week trial began on January 17 this year. The turning point of the trial came when Anderson was proved to have lied about his qualifications.
He told the court that in August 2000 he had finished an accountancy course and was working as a doorman at the West End’s Heaven nightclub during a two-year study break. He also claimed to have 11 GCSEs and three A-Levels. Police proved he had six GCSEs, had briefly attended a bricklaying course at Hendon College but had never studied accountancy.The jury took two hours to find Anderson guilty of murder and of assaulting a man before the murder. Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith recommended that Anderson should serve a minimum of 13 years and 220 days before he can apply for parole, taking into account the time he spent in custody in Spain.
DC Copley added: "We are delighted that this has been a proper and just outcome. “Paul’s family acted with dignity throughout the three week hearing.”