GREENWICH: Thug awaits sentence for Paul Martin murder

Michael Bowden had already admitted manslaughter but was found guilty of Paul Martin’s murder at the Old Bailey yesterday (April 20).

Mr Martin, 25, from Blackheath, went into cardiac arrest after being stabbed close to St Alfege Church in Greenwich Church Street at around 2.15am on March 29 last year.

On the night of the murder Mr Martin had been out with his girlfriend and another couple in Greenwich.

The group had started the evening by having a meal at a restaurant before going to a nightclub.

When they left the club the group were standing in Greenwich Church Street waiting for a friend to pick them up and take them home.

As they were waiting a man, who was later identified as Michael Bowden, came out of a nearby phone box and started verbally abusing Mr Martin for no reason and moved to attack him.

Mr Martin’s friend tried to intervene by standing between him and Bowden and as he did so Bowden kept lunging at Mr Martin as if he was punching him.

A tussle then ensued between Bowden and Mr Martin before the defendant fled the scene and ran towards Roan Street.

It was at this point that Mr Martin's friends realised he had been stabbed and that he was bleeding profusely from his face, neck and chest.

He was trying to talk but soon lost consciousness.

He died later that morning in hospital despite having undergone emergency surgery.

Father-of-two stabbed five times

The post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as massive blood loss caused by stab wounds to the neck and chest.

In total Mr Martin had been stabbed five times.

Murder squad officers examined the telephone box and traced the number Bowden, of Marden Square, Bermondsey, had dialled back to his girlfriend's house.

Officers arrested him the following day after finding him in possession of drugs, believed to be cocaine.

Killer was in Greenwich looking for his girlfriend

CCTV images and the description of the murder suspect given by witnesses matched Bowden and he was then arrested for Mr Martin’s murder.

Further information showed Bowden's girlfriend had gone to the Greenwich area with a male friend on the night of the murder and police believe Bowden went there in an effort to find her.

That is why he was on Church Street and why he was so agitated.

He was charged with murder on April 8 last year.

Detective Inspector Chris Stanley from the Met's Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: “I am pleased that the jury has returned a guilty verdict and that this thug, Michael Bowden, is going to jail for the brutal and unprovoked murder of Paul Martin.

“I would like to pay tribute to Paul's family who have shown such dignity and courage throughout the whole terrible ordeal.

“Paul leaves behind two young children and the family has been utterly devastated by the senseless way in which Paul died.

“I would like to thank all of the witnesses who gave evidence at the trial and who have helped bring Bowden to justice.

“I would also like to thank all of the officers on this case for their hard work and dedication.”