Man cleared of love-rival’s murder
A man has been acquitted of murdering a love rival after hurling a knife at him through an open car window.
But the jury convicted John Buchanan, 22, of the manslaughter of Archie Ward, 40, after a love feud turned fatal.
The blade pierced Mr Ward’s right leg, severing an artery as he drove away after a confrontation between the two men.
Buchanan had denied both charges after an incident near his home in Newington, in Ramsgate, in June. Now he faces a long jail sentence after the jury rejected his claim to have thrown the kitchen knife at the car and not Mr Ward.
He will be sentenced in two weeks.
Buchanan had been with Mr Ward’s former partner, Hannah Blake, at a neighbour’s barbe- cue when Mr Ward drove past on Father’s Day after dropping off his children at the home of Miss Blake’s mother.
Miss Blake told the jury Mr Ward had previously threatened to kill Buchanan during one row, threatening to stab him.
Other friends had reported hearing goading between the two men.
After a confrontation on the day he died, Mr Ward apologised but Buchanan later appeared outside and threw the knife from about 10 metres away.
It went through the open passenger’s window.
Mr Ward drove off, but collapsed in a garden.