A 26-year-old chef has been convicted of murdering a man who was his ex-girlfriend’s boyfriend. The incident happened at Nelson Grove, Chelmsford on July 25, Marek Hecko stabbed Adrian Ellingford twice in the back at a property.
Hecko, 26, was found guilty of murder at Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday and was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 26 years. The court stated that Hecko was still obsessed with his ex-girlfriend, Stephanie Breame with whom in broke up in May 2022.
Who was Adrian Ellingford?
Adrian Ellingford, 44, was stabbed twice in the back at a property in Nelson Grove, Chelmsford, Essex, in the early morning hours on July 25, 2022.
Marek Hecko, a Rookes Crescent resident of Chelmsford was found guilty of murdering Ellingford after a trial lasting about three weeks. Chelmsford Crown Court recorded how Hecko is “pined and obsessed” over Stephanie Breame.
Jurors learnt how Hecko was in a relationship with Ms Breame for about seven months which ended in May 2022. He continued messaging her repeatedly and carried out various internet searches of her name.
Ms Breame was in a romantic relationship with married Mr Ellingford. She woke in bed when he said in doubt about “someone” being in the house before he collapsed with a knife embedded in his back. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
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Hecko told the witness he had “done something terrible.”
Ellingford’s wife Laura called Ellingford “an amazing husband of 17 years” and a “truly brilliant” father to their children aged 10 and 12″He was brutally ripped from our lives in events that I still can’t really comprehend myself or begin to explain to our boys,” Laura said.
Mr Ellingford was “hard-working and caring” and regularly volunteered at a scout group.
The jury passed a unanimous verdict after four and a half hours of deliberation on Monday afternoon.
