COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

The accused has been remanded in custody

Warwickshire Police have confirmed that an 18-year old man has been charged with murder in connection with the death of a man in his 40s in Rugby.

Matthew Smith, of Newland Street, Rugby, was charged in the early hours of Sunday morning (September 5), and has been remanded in custody to appear at Coventry Magistrates' Court on Monday.

The charge relates to an incident that occurred on Newland Street on Thursday.

The force previously reported:

"Shortly after 6am on Thursday (September 2), officers were called to a property in Newland Street where a man in his 40s was found with multiple serious injuries.

"The man was taken to hospital but sadly died this morning (Saturday). His next of kin have been informed.

"An 18-year-old man from Rugby was initially arrested on suspicion of assault/GBH in connection with the incident – he has now been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody."

Detective Inspector Collette O’Keefe from Warwickshire Police said: “A murder investigation has now been launched after a man who was seriously assaulted in Rugby on Thursday sadly died this morning. Our thoughts remain with the man’s family who are being supported by specially trained officers."

Man guilty of Mark Richmond murder after Rugby house attack



A man has been convicted of murder after his "senseless and sickening" assault on another man in the property they lived in led to his death.

Mark Richmond, 47, was found unconscious and bleeding, in Rugby in 2021, and died two days later.

Matthew Naysmith, 20, denied the attack, but he was convicted after police gathered evidence through blood pattern analysis.

Naysmith was found guilty on Tuesday after a trial at Warwick Crown Court.

The 20-year-old of Newland Street, a home of multiple occupation where the attack occurred, is due to be sentenced at the same court on 12 October.

Mr Richmond was taken to hospital with a punctured lung, fractured ribs and skull on 2 September 2021, after police went to the property following concerns for his welfare.

Naysmith was arrested at the house on suspicion of assault through grievous bodily harm and then murder after Mr Richmond died, Warwickshire Police said.

Officers found signs of a disturbance, but Naysmith denied any involvement saying they both went to bed in their respective flats and he woke up to find Mr Richmond injured.

But when pressed by police, Naysmith admitted the pair had been drinking together the night before, the force added.

Det Insp Collette O'Keefe, senior investigating officer, said: "From the outset Naysmith denied any wrongdoing but the reality was far from this, and thankfully the jury were able to see through his lies.

"Naysmith's attack was senseless and sickening - he severely assaulted Mark and ultimately, was responsible for ending his life.

"Mark did nothing to deserve this, and it was an act of extreme violence, which was totally unjustified."

In a statement issued through the force, Mr Richmond's family said they were pleased with the guilty verdict.

"Mark didn't deserve such a violent and brutal end to his life and neither did his children deserve to have their father taken away in such tragic circumstances," they said.

"It's been an incredibly emotional two years waiting for an outcome so we're glad this has finally come to an end and justice has been done."

Man jailed for murdering Mark Richmond in Rugby house attack


Victim: Mark Richmond

A man has jailed for 17 years for his "sickening" assault on another man in the property they both lived in.

Mark Richmond, 47, was found unconscious and bleeding in the house in Rugby in 2021, and died in hospital two days later.

Matthew Naysmith, 20, denied the attack but was convicted of his murder at Warwick Crown Court last month.

Warwickshire Police described the incident as "act of extreme violence, which was totally unjustified".

Mr Richmond was taken to hospital with a punctured lung, fractured ribs and skull on 2 September 2021, after police went to the property on Newland Street following concerns for his welfare.

Naysmith was arrested on suspicion of assault through grievous bodily harm and then murder after Mr Richmond died, the force said.

Signs of a disturbance were discovered by police but Naysmith denied any involvement telling officers the pair went to bed in their respective flats and he woke up to find Mr Richmond injured.

But he went to admit the pair had been drinking together the night before and police gathered evidence through blood pattern analysis which cast doubt on his story, the force added.

After his conviction last month, Det Insp Collette O'Keefe, senior investigating officer, said although from the outset Naysmith denied any wrongdoing, "the reality was far from this".

"Naysmith's attack was senseless and sickening - he severely assaulted Mark and ultimately, was responsible for ending his life.

"Mark did nothing to deserve this, and it was an act of extreme violence, which was totally unjustified."