A man who stabbed a "loving husband and father" to death at a City of London Cemetery funeral was found guilty of manslaughter yesterday.

Following a trial at the Old Bailey, John Nicholles, 53, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of the manslaughter of 54-year-old Peter Charles John on July 23 last year in the North Boundary Road cemetery near Aldersbrook.

On that morning, Peter had been to a funeral service for his step father-in-law, with his wife and daughter.

After the service they made their way as part of the cortege to the burial site in the City of London Cemetery.

At about 2.30pm, a cemetery worker came across Peter's body, slumped near a gravestone.

The emergency services attended and Peter was rushed to hospital by London's Air Ambulance where he died.

An investigation was carried out by detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command.

During a search of the crime scene officers recovered a silver chain, a black crucifix and a pair of sunglasses.

Forensic analysis showed that Peter's blood was present on the chain, crucifix and sunglasses whilst Nicholles’s DNA was recovered from the sunglasses.

Only two days after the murder Nicholles was arrested on suspicion of murder at an address in Stockwell.

Detectives then managed to link him to a green Ford Mondeo, which witnesses had said was at the cemetery on the day Peter died.

In his car officers found an order of service for the funeral and a blood stain that proved a match to Peter's DNA.

At an address in Lambeth officers recovered clothes and shoes that had blood stains from both Nicholles and Peter.

Nicholles was charged with murder on July 27 last year and yesterday was subsequently convicted of manslaughter. 

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Jones, who led the investigation, said: "Nicholles killed Peter in the middle of the day in a busy cemetery where they had both gone to pay their respects at a funeral.

“Throughout his interview he refused to comment or show any remorse, we are still not clear on why he took Peter's life.

"Peter was a loving husband and father.

“I hope that the conviction today goes some small way to helping his family come to terms with their loss." 

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Forensics at the scene in the City of London Cemetery in July last year.