Two men given life sentences over Battersea murder

Pictured: Michael Swan and Gary Beech

Two men have been jailed for a combined total of 40 years after they were both found guilty of the murder of their neighbour, Ian Tomlin, on the same road a 46 year old man was murdered last week.

Gary Beech, 48, and Michael Swan, 46, were given life sentences after a baseball bat and knife attack on Ian Tomlins left him for dead on Charlotte Despard Avenue, Battersea, mere meters away from where Iderval da Silva was killed on May 25.

Beech, of Cromwell House on Charlotte Despard Avenue was a neighbour of Ian Tomlin and 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 of 19 years.

A 16 year old boy has since been charged with the murder of Mr Da Silva on May 29.