A former footballer has been found guilty of the merciless killing of a suspected international drug dealer over a £20,000 debt.
Charles Riddington, 37 and a former Millwall player in his youth, ambushed and knifed new father George Baker, 24, to death at the Double K gym in Bexley, south east London on November 14, 2016.
Riddington, and three other men jumped the suspected large-scale cocaine wholesaler before stabbing him 17 times causing Mr Baker to stagger to the door before collapsing to his death, the court heard.
The weekend of the killing Riddington told the court he had been to the birthday party of Jamie Redknapps son, who played with his own boy at Chelsea.
After murdering Mr Baker, Riddington fled the country on a fake passport to Germany and South Africa before eventually being extradited from northern Cyprus in November last year, when he was charged.
Riddington claimed he acted in self defence after he was attacked with Mr Barker producing a knife.
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He told jurors Mr Barker got angry after Riddington berated him for not paying his debts to three big drug dealers he refused to name.
The jury at the Old Bailey today found Riddington guilty of murder but not guilty of possessing a knife.
Mr Barkers family expressed their joy and relief as the verdict was delivered. Riddingtons sister-in-law collapsed in tears in the public gallery and was led away.
With the trial now over it can also be reported that two witnesses failed to give evidence in court.
Gym owner Kieron Keddle, who found fame in a TV documentary training actor Idris Elba, moved to Canada after the stabbing while personal trainer and kick-boxing champion Luke Whelan went missing the day before the trial after his girlfriend drove him to Kings Cross station.
In the absence of the jury, prosecutor Jonathan Rees QC said: The evidence is he (Mr Whelan) has been deeply affected and troubled by what he saw and he is in fear and that is the main reason why he has chosen not to attend court.
Riddington said during evidence that three drug dealers had approached him the week before the killing to say Mr Barker owed them money for coke and skunk and himself a further £20,000.
He told jurors: I said to him, George, you need to pay your bills. I was basically saying you have got to pay your debts.
He just sort of nodded and said, I will put it right. And thats how it was left.
When he turned up for training on Monday morning, gym owner Mr Keddle had asked him about Redknapp and whether he would agree to a documentary like Mr Elbas.
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Riddington denied lying in wait to ambush Mr Barker, telling jurors: I only noticed George was in the gym when he was on the mats.
I said to him, All right money-bags? Who owes this 20 grand then, George?
I said to him, I tell you what you need to do, you need to stop going out buyinRead More – Source
