Man who brutally stabbed young father to death convicted of murder

A violent man has been convicted of murder after brutally stabbing another man to death just yards away from his father.

Armed with a large kitchen knife, Cameron Wayne Baker, 28, attacked Thomas Barton, 30, in Ryde on the Isle of Wight in the early hours of 28 May 2023 after a personal dispute.

Baker, who denied murder and claimed self-defence against the victim, hurled boiling water over Mr Barton before twice plunging the blade into Mr Barton’s chest.

CPS prosecutors successfully argued the fatal wounds inflicted by Baker went beyond any reasonable expectation of self-defence.

He was found guilty of murder on Thursday 7 December following a trial at Winchester Crown Court.

Ruth Sands, CPS Wessex Senior Crown Prosecutor, said: “This case is yet another tragic example of the fatal consequences of violence involving knives.

“This was a difficult and complex prosecution as we needed to prove Baker intended to kill Thomas Barton.

“Our prosecutors pieced together compelling witness testimony with forensic evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt that this was not self-defence – this was a cold-blooded murder.

“Mr Barton, a young father, was unarmed when he confronted Baker. For him to be murdered so swiftly and brutally underlines the permanency that knife crime can have on a person’s life.

“Let this case be stark a reminder to those who use knives for violence – you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Following a personal dispute involving Baker and Mr Barton and his ex-partner on 27 May, the victim sought to confront Baker at an address on Park Road.

He was driven to the address by his father, who witnessed the incident unfold.

Expecting Mr Barton’s arrival, Baker armed himself with a boiled kettle and a large knife before waiting on the doorstep.

A brief scuffle ensued during which Mr Barton was scalded by boiling water and then stabbed twice in the chest – suffering a punctured lung and a fatal wound to the heart.

The victim staggered away from the scene before dying in front of his father and members of the public.

Despite overwhelming evidence, Baker denied stabbing Mr Barton in the chest or scalding him with the water, instead claiming he only stabbed the victim’s legs.

He also refused to give police the PIN for his personal mobile.

A large kitchen knife was found tucked under a wheelie bin yards away from where the incident took place. A prosecution expert determined the knife was likely used to inflict the fatal wounds on Mr Barton.

Baker is scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday 12 December at Winchester Crown Court.

Another defendant also charged with murder was found not guilty.