Theodore Lynch found guilty of Norwich drugs row murder

The body of Leslie Smith was discovered at his flat on Norwich’s Suffolk Square in October 2021 after neighbours reported a bad smell coming from the property.

Leslie Smith died from a stab wound to the neck following an altercation in October 2021 (Image: Newsquest)

His death was initially treated as unexplained by police but further tests revealed he had died as a result of a single stab wound to his neck.

Theodore Lynch, 41, was found guilty of his murder following a two-week trial at Norwich Crown Court. 

During the trial he had admitted manslaughter but a jury of eight women and three men took less than three hours to deliver a unanimous verdict of murder.

He will be sentenced on May 2. 

Mr Smith's decomposing body was not found in his flat at Suffolk Square, Norwich (Image: Newsquest)

The trial had heard Lynch had gone to Mr Smith's flat to give him money to buy drugs but that the pair had later become involved in an altercation after Mr Smith returned to the property empty handed.

Following the row Lynch was captured on CCTV running at speed in a “blind panic” from the area.

Stephen Rose KC, prosecuting, said when he stabbed his victim Lynch "did so intending to kill him or cause him really serious harm".

The jury had been told Lynch had made a series of “persistent lies" to try and "minimise his responsibility".

The trial had heard the killing was after a dispute over the purchase of drugs (Image: Newsquest)

However his former partner - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - gave evidence to say he had turned up at her home on the night of October 5 "agitated" and with blood on his hands and coat.

She said he had told her "people were mugging me off" before adding "I pushed something into someone's neck".

Giving evidence Lynch claimed he had only intended to scare Mr Smith.

He said he had not known the knife had gone into his neck and that he was dying when he left the flat.