Student murdered by mother's ex

A middle-ranking civil servant was convicted of murdering the son of his former lover in revenge when she ended their relationship.

Undergraduate Michael Jones, 18, was hacked and bludgeoned to death by Gerard Tony Paul, 46, because he blamed Michael for the romance turning sour.

The teenager was found at his home in Edmonton, north London, in March.

Paul, from Gilbert Street, Enfield, north London, will be sentenced at the Old Bailey in the next few days.

'Shocking murder'

Ms Kirby-Jones, a hospital personal assistant, returned home to find Michael's body in a room they used as an office.

"Michael had been stabbed in a frenzied and brutal attack which left him with the most appalling mutilating injuries"
Brian Altman, QC, prosecuting

After hearing footsteps at the house, she barricaded herself in the room as Paul tried to force the door open before fleeing.

Brian Altman, QC, prosecuting, said: "This was a shocking murder. Michael had been stabbed in a frenzied and brutal attack which left him with the most appalling mutilating injuries."

The student had been tied up with brown parcel tape around his wrists, hands, knees and ankles.

The court heard that Paul and Miss Kirby-Jones had been in a year-long relationship which had ended the month before.

Child protection

"He wanted me to say I loved him," said Miss Kirby-Jones. "He wanted more than I was prepared to give.

"My son felt uncomfortable. He felt Tony Paul made himself too comfortable."

She asked him to visit less because her son objected. But Paul "was not happy. He complained frequently", she said.

Paul, who was a civil servant responsible for the child protection data base at the Department for Children, Schools and Families, was described by police as a coward.

"He has lied ever since his arrest, and won't accept responsibility for what happened," said Det Ch Insp John MacDonald.

"Despite working as a middle-ranking civil servant for many years he had wasted his money away.

"Michael and his mum worked hard and had a nice lifestyle, and Paul wanted part of that."

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