Leon Lockhart guilty over Daniel Baker street stab death
A man has been found guilty of killing another man in a Derbyshire village.
Daniel Baker, 32, from Derby, was discovered with a single stab wound in Mansfield Road, South Normanton, on 19 July last year.
Leon Lockhart, 32, from South Normanton, who had been charged with murder, was convicted of manslaughter at Nottingham Crown Court, on Thursday.
Michaela Griffiths, 24, also from South Normanton, pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice, in November.
Mr Baker was discovered at 23:35 BST by a couple who were walking along Mansfield Road.
He was later pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.
Detectives said Mr Baker had spent the day leading up to his death with Lockhart and Griffiths after a chance meeting on a bus the day before.
All three were seen on CCTV around Alfreton and South Normanton on numerous occasions on 18 and 19 July, police said.
Det Ch Insp Lisa Macintyre, who led the investigation, said: "Today's verdict demonstrates that people who carry knives and are willing to use them will face the consequences of their actions.
"This was a needless act and as a result, a little boy has lost his father.
"It is clear the lifestyle they lived in the 30 hours they spent together played a part in his subsequent death."
The family of Daniel Baker said in a statement: "We realise that Danny was no angel, in fact he is now known as our loveable rogue.
"We realise he spent a lot of time in prison, fighting and taking drugs but we also know he didn't deserve to die.
"Now we think it's time to try and move on and try to piece our lives back together."
Lockhart and Griffiths, both of Carter Lane East, will be sentenced on Friday.