WARNING DISTRESSING CONTENT: Kevin Horswill, from Thaxted, Essex, who was pictured with a bloodied face after he was arrested by police, has now been found guilty of murdering Richard Langley
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Police CCTV shows Kevin Horswill following Richard Langley
A murderer who followed a man home and strangled him after an argument at a pub has been pictured with his face battered and bruised.
Kevin Horswill, from Thaxted, Essex, had been at The Star public house in Mill End on the evening of March 17, 2024 when Richard Langley arrived. During the course of the evening the two were involved in an altercation and Horswill reportedly said to Mr Langley “you’re a dead man”.
Mr Langley, 52, left the pub and later was seen on CCTV walking a dog in the village, before Horswill also appeared shortly after on cameras taking the same route. Horswill was convicted of following Mr Langley and fatally assaulting him in the garden of his address in Orchard Close.
Horswill tried to deny he instigated the assault at his trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, but the jury refused to believe he acted in self-defence and convicted him of murder by majority verdict on Tuesday. He will be remanded in custody until his sentencing at the same court tomorrow.
Detective Superintendent Ant Alcock said: “My thoughts and condolences remain with Richard’s loved ones as they have done throughout this investigation. This has been a complex and detailed investigation – it is important the jury have reached their verdict today and I’d like to thank them for their role in this trial.
“Horswill carried out a violent and premeditated attack, spurred on by an argument at a pub just hours before. His argument of self-defence was completely undermined by the case built by our skilled investigators, which left the jury in no doubt he was guilty. We now await his sentencing.”
Police constructed a detailed timeline of CCTV from throughout the evening of the attack. Officers tracked the movement of Richard and Horswill from their altercation in The Star earlier in the evening, which clearly showed Mr Langley leave the pub and walk his dog, reported EssexLive.
Horswill was shown around 20 minutes later taking the same route Richard took across the village, and their two figures were seen at Orchard Close before Horswill then leaves the scene minutes later with serious head injuries.
Witnesses reported hearing this assault and members of the public came to assist with CPR while paramedics rushed to try and help Mr Langley. In an audio recording made by a neighbour of Mr Langley two people could be heard in the garden with one shouting “get off me, get off me” followed by silence.
Horswill was arrested at his address in the early hours of March 18 and was taken into custody following hospital treatment before being charged with murder. The defendant claimed in court he was assaulted in the incident: “‘I was being smashed around the head with a tool while trying to escape on all fours. We obviously had a struggle because I was trying to pull him down to my level. I controlled him by using my arms across his chest.” He claimed that he put Mr Langley in a bearhug in an “act of self-defence” and that he did not know how he died.
Det Supt Alcock added: “This case was only made so strong by the work of dozens of officers carrying out enquires, taking witness statement and gathering the forensic evidence to make a complete picture of the events of that evening. I’d like to thank all of them for their commitment throughout this investigation. I’d also ask the privacy of Richard’s family is respected at this time.”