A murderer who killed his friend stormed off a video link as he was told he would serve a life sentence. Lee Llewellyn, 51, stabbed 32-year-old Martin Hefferman in the heart, inflicting fatal wounds at a house in Honeysuckle Close, Bradley Stoke during the early hours of November 18, 2023.
The force was so great that the blade of the steak knife broke off and was embedded in Mr Hefferman's heart and liver. Two women, who were at the property with the men, did not witness the fatal stabbing but reported hearing an argument between them downstairs.
They discovered Mr Hefferman critically injured and bleeding on the landing and called police at around 3.20am. Despite the efforts of emergency services, Martin Hefferman died at the property after 4am.
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Despite confessing to officers he had "stabbed the guy" and "I didn't mean to do it but he attacked me”, Llewellyn later denied he murdered Mr Hefferman and claimed that he had accidentally impaled himself on the knife. Llewellyn was found guilty of murder after a nine-day trial at Bristol Crown Court this week.
The trial heard that Llewellyn and Mr Hefferman had been at the property with two women, one being the homeowner, for roughly 48 hours before violence erupted. During this time, alcohol and drugs were consumed. The prosecution argued that the severity and location of the wound indicated that Llewellyn had intentions to either kill or inflict serious harm on Mr Hefferman.
During the sentencing hearing on Friday morning (May 24), Llewellyn appeared on video link from HMP Bristol where he continually paced around the room and smoked his vape. Llewellyn continued to protest his conviction by sharing “you stitched me right up” and expressed he would appeal his sentence.
Llewellyn said “there’s been a f*** up” before leaving the room. He re-entered the room and appeared to say “I will f*** you up” before leaving the room for the final time. His camera was then switched off as Judge Martin Picton ignored his comments and continued his sentencing remarks.
Judge Picton described Llewellyn as “volatile and violent” and remarked he was “drunk and aggressive” towards Mr Hefferman before his murder. He said: “Martin Hefferman was a friend of yours.
"Despite that and despite the fact he represented no threat to you or anyone. You chose to stab him in the chest in a manner that clearly demonstrated you acted with the intent to do so. As you said shortly before you were losing your temper with Martin before and you were going to stab him.
“You said that upstairs and then you went downstairs, picked up the steak knife and did what you said you were going to do”.
Llewellyn was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years before he is considered for release. He will also pay a surcharge.
Detective Inspector Mark Newbury, of the Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “It’s clear there was a dispute between Lee Llewellyn and Martin Hefferman in the moments before the murder took place. Whatever caused that argument cannot justify the conscious decision Llewellyn made to grab a knife, which he used to kill Martin.
“It may have been a decision made in the heat of the moment, but it is inconceivable he would not have recognised bringing a knife into the argument could have tragic consequences. Sadly, that proved the case.
“He then made several telling admissions to police after being arrested. Martin was a young man whose life was snatched away from him on that fateful day six months ago. We are pleased to have secured a conviction for his family. They have shown courage throughout our investigation as they seek to come to terms with losing their son. Our thoughts remain with them.”
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