Vigilante brothers murdered wrong man

PAUL CHESTON Courts Correspondent

THREE brothers who stabbed an innocent father-of-six to death as he lay sleeping have been convicted of murder.

Julien Warrington, 43, was knifed 19 times by a vigilante mob out for revenge for an attack on one of their associates in Paulet Road, Camberwell.

After kicking down a number of front doors in the same street they broke into the flat where Mr Warrington was staying. The assistant chef was heard to say "oh no, no, no" before he was stabbed in the back and left bleeding to death. He was staying with his sister after splitting up with his partner.

Earlier on 3 September last year Alan Ellis, 19, had been attacked in his home by somebody unconnected with Mr Warrington. Suffering from a head wound, Ellis phoned his half-brothers, Declan Fitzgerald, 23, Stephen Fitzgerald, 25, and John Fitzgerald, 28.

A group gathered at John Fitzgerald's home nearby before setting out in the middle of the afternoon. Neighbours called police as they kicked in the doors.

An Old Bailey jury today found Ellis and John Fitzgerald, both of Brixton, guilty of murder. Declan Fitzgerald pleaded guilty earlier. Sentencing will take place at a later date. Stephen Fitzgerald, Paul Hudson and Jermaine Morris were found not guilty.