Norwich drugs row murderer threatened to kill witness

Theodore Lynch, 41, was found guilty of the murder of Leslie Smith, 63, at the victim's flat in Norwich.

At his sentencing at the city's crown court on Thursday, it emerged that Lynch was already serving a jail sentence for attacking Alaina Pitcher, his former girlfriend and a key prosecution witness.

She was in Mr Smith's Suffolk Square flat at the time of the murder, in October 2021, and saw the fatal fight. 

Mr Smith's body was not discovered until 12 days later when neighbours reported a bad smell coming from the property.

Theodore Lynch has been jailed for a minimum of 22 years after being found guilty of murder (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)

He died from a single stab wound from a six inch kitchen knife to his neck that was so forceful that it penetrated down into his chest.

A jury took less than three hours to find  Lynch guilty of his murder following a two-week trial at Norwich Crown Court.

On Thursday he was sentenced to serve life with a minimum of 22 years.

The  sentencing hearing was told that shortly after fleeing the murder scene in a “blind panic” Lynch had attacked Ms Pitcher. 

CCTV footage of Theodore Lynch leaving Leslie Smith's flat in Suffolk Square Norwich (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)CCTV captures Lynch walking down Unthank Road in Norwich after the murder took place (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)

Threatening her with a pair of scissors before stabbing her with a knife, he told her: “If I’m going down you’re coming with me. I haven’t got anything to lose.”

Lynch was previously jailed for three and half years for wounding with intent over the incident in 2021, the court was told.

Killer was 'habitual carrier of knives' 

Judge Alice Robinson said Lynch was a “habitual carrier of knives” with an “entrenched pattern of violent behaviour” going back to 2003.

He has 20  previous convictions for violence including the use of weapons including knives, scissors and a screwdriver. 

In 2019 he used a shard of glass to attack a man while in 2020 he was convicted of punching and stabbing a woman.   

Leslie Smith body was found at his flat in Suffolk Square 12 days after his death (Image: Newsquest)

Judge Robinson said Mr Smith had been described as a “nice guy and kind man” who had invited Lynch back to his flat but had been killed in a “brutal manner” follow in a row over the purchase of drugs.

The couple had given Mr Smith £50 to get them drugs but when he returned empty handed Lynch became so “incensed” that he initially held a six inch kitchen knife to his neck before stabbing him, the trial heard.

His anger had been fuelled by taking a cocktail of drugs, the judge added.

Repeated lies to try to cover his tracks

The court heard that Lynch was arrested after police linked him to the scene where Mr Smith's partially decomposed body was discovered on his sofa.

Judge Robinson said Lynch had repeatedly lied about his involvement, initially claiming not to know where Mr Smith lived then that he had merely pushed him.

He later admitted to police that he had threatened him but had claimed Mr Smith had moved forward causing the knife to stab him.  

Judge Alice Robinson said Lynch was a 'habitual carrier of knives' (Image: Newsquest)

The judge told Lynch: "You and the truth do not have passing acquaintance”.

The court heard that police linked Lynch to the death through CCTV footage which showed him making a hasty exit from the flat complex less than two minutes after the stabbing and without calling 999.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Burgess said: “Lynch murdered Mr Smith for a drug debt and has shown no remorse since.

"He is a very dangerous man and the jury’s decision to convict him of murder will ensure he is kept behind bars for a considerable amount of time, making the streets of Norwich a safer place.”

He said it had been a complex investigation frustrated by the delay in discovering Mr Smith’s body with his death initially treated as unexplained.