UPDATED WITH SENTENCE: Nightclub killer Edward Wilson convicted of murder

A man has been jailed for life after he murdered another man at a nightclub.

Edward Wilson, 39, of Oakthorpe Gardens, Tividale was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 22 years, following the murder of 29-year-old Akeem Francis-Kerr.

Wilson stabbed Mr Francis-Kerr in the neck at Valesha's in Walsall, also known as Colliseum, in the early hours of 11 March this year.

Mr Francis-Kerr was stabbed just minutes after arriving in the nightclub in what appeared to be a dispute about where he was standing in the club.

The court heard that Wilson returned from the toilet to meet Mr Francis-Kerr standing where he previously stood.

CCTV footage showed both men facing each other before Wilson raised his hand towards Mr Francis-Kerr. It was later discovered that he had plunged a knife 6cm deep into Mr Francis-Kerr's neck.

He then fled the scene as people rushed to help Mr Francis-Kerr who was severely injured.

Sadly, Mr Francis-Kerr died on the way to the hospital from the deep stab wound which penetrated his skin and two major blood vessels.

Two days after the stabbing, Wilson checked into an apartment in Sheffield where he was arrested. When he was interviewed by the police, he denied killing or ever having any physical contact with Mr Francis-Kerr.

The CPS relied on blood staining evidence and CCTV footage, which showed where both men stood during the incident, and Wilson's hand movements towards Mr Francis-Kerr, which helped to prove Wilson's guilt.

Lorraine Anson of the CPS said: “Edward Wilson robbed a young man of his life and future when he committed this senseless and violent crime. Akeem Francis-Kerr went to the club for a good time and did not deserve to die a cruel and untimely death.

“There are no justifications for Wilson’s actions and he has shown no remorse for the decisions he made which cost an innocent man his life.  This case is another example of the tragic consequences of knife crime and should be a reminder that those who choose to carry and use knives can expect to be prosecuted fully as the law allows. Our thoughts are with Mr Francis-Kerr’s family for their immeasurable pain and irreplaceable loss.”

Edward Wilson will be sentenced on 13 October 2023 at Stafford Crown Court.