Two men get life for murder of Battersea man, Ian Tomlin
BY TOBYPORTER
toby@slpmedia.co.uk
Two men have been jailed for a combined total of 40 years after they were found guilty of murder on the same road where a 46-year-old man was killed two weeks ago.
Gary Beech, 48, and Michael Swan, 46, were given life sentences after a baseball bat and knife attack on Ian Tomlin left him for dead in Charlotte Despard Avenue, Battersea.
Their attack was just metres away from where Iderval da Silva was killed on May 25.
Beech, who lived in the same street in Cromwell House, Charlotte Despard Avenue, was a neighbour of Ian Tomlin. Swan, of Enterprise Way, Wandsworth was a close friend of Beech and was a regular visitor to his house.
Ian Tomlin believed the pair were dealing drugs from there and often challenged their presence on the estate. This had led to a long-running feud between the victim and the two defendants, spanning many months before the attack.
On October 17, 2018, Ian returned home to find Beech and Swan meeting in a communal area on the first floor landing of the building.
The court heard from a witness who described how Ian had armed himself with a baseball bat and chain during the confrontation. CCTV footage captured Swan and Ian Tomlin fighting, with Beech intervening.
Ian Tomlin was then overcome and struck on the head a number of times with the baseball bat he brought to the scene.
He was also stabbed repeatedly in the neck. Beech and Swan then left the block with Swan carrying what appeared, from CCTV footage, to be the baseball bat.
Gary Beech was given a minimum of 21 years with Michael Swan sentenced to a minimum ofn19 years.
Detective Inspector Jo Sidaway, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “These men acted together in a brutal assault leading to Ian’s tragic death.
“They overpowered Ian and began an excessively violent attack upon him, no doubt because he was again confronting them about their criminal activities.
I hope this conviction brings some measure of comfort to Ian’s family.
“The verdict shows that we will not tolerate violence on London’s streets and officers will pursue and bring anyone who incites such brutal and horrific acts to justice.”
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Police investigating the May 25 killing of Mr da Silva, 46, have charged a second person with murder.
Jaden Richards, 19, of Strasburg Road, Wandsworth, was charged with murder on the evening of Friday, May 31.
A post-mortem will be held in due course.
The murder investigation led by detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command continues.
A 16-year-old appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Friday, May 31 charged with murder.
He was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey today.
Another 16-year-old boy was arrested near to the scene on suspicion of grievous bodily harm on the day of the incident.
He was taken to a west London police station and has been bailed to return on a date in early June pending further enquiries
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