A murderer is set to be sentenced today after battering a man to death.
Kevin Spaine was yesterday convicted of murdering Learoy Venner at a flat on Belmont Drive in Anfield in summer last year. The 53-year-old victim suffered injuries likened to those seen in car crash victims after being brutally and repeatedly punched and kicked.
The unanimous verdict was delivered on Tuesday afternoon after two hours and 39 minutes of deliberations by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court. Spaine will return to the court this morning, Wednesday, for sentencing.
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A trial previously heard that Mr Venner had been living at the address temporarily at the time of the incident on July 27 2022, sleeping on a camp bed in the lounge. Alan Kent KC prosecuting, described how the apartment was "being used as a drug den" with Spaine among its frequent visitors.
But the 43-year-old was refused entry by the victim shortly after midday on the day in question. He was eventually let in by returning tenant Mark Kelly, who then left again in order to top up the electricity meter.
It was at this point that Mr Venner was fatally assaulted, with Spaine leaving him lying unconscious and going to his mum's house to change his clothes afterwards. He was arrested on suspicion of murder on Edge Lane that evening, at which point he responded: "That's a big charge, what do you mean murder?"
Under interview with detectives, Spaine later stated that Mr Venner – from Toxteth – had "taken two swings at him" and he had returned four or five blows "in self-defence". A post-mortem investigation revealed that he had suffered "multiple forceful blows", causing a brain injury – "the sort of trauma usually associated with a car crash or a fall from height".
Olivia Williams
Case called on
The case has just been called on, so the sentencing should begin in the next few minutes.
Olivia Williams
Sentencing to begin shortly
Good morning from Liverpool Crown Court.
We're in position in the courtroom now, with the sentencing listed to begin at 10.30am.
Just to run you through the various parties in this case, Alan Kent KC appears for the prosecution.
John Harrison KC is Spaine's defence counsel, while Judge Brian Cummings KC will be passing sentence.