Andrew clark guilty of john 'bamber' donaldson's murder despite 'lie after lie'

A man has been convicted of murder after stabbing John 'Bamber' Donaldson to death. Andrew Clark, 39, shouted and argued from the dock as the verdicts were read out. A Teesside

Crown Court jury found him guilty of stabbing his long-term friend twice in a row over a mountain bike. The knife penetrated Mr Donaldson's heart and he collapsed near a friend's

home on Lealholm Walk, in Whale Hill, on the evening of November 21 last year. Mr Donaldson, 34, had used Clark's mountain bike to cycle to Jay's Newsagents on Birchington Road

earlier that day to buy lemonade. During Clark's trial, witnesses said they heard Clark shouting: "Where's my f****** bike?" hours after. The court heard that an angry

Clark repeatedly drove to Bernadette McElvaney's home, on Lealholm Walk, near Birchington Avenue, and beeped his horn. Ms McElvaney's son and Mr Donaldson were inside. Ms McElvaney

said Mr Donaldson went outside to tell Clark to go away - but Clark then attacked Mr Donaldson, who collapsed. Seconds later, Clark threw a baseball bat at Ms McElvaney's window and

drove off. Giving evidence during his trial, Clark claimed his pal had attacked him with a baseball bat during the street row saying he thought he was going to die so picked up a knife he

saw on the pavement. He claimed he had no idea Mr Donaldson was seriously injured when he left the scene in a Mercedes he had taken from pal Katie Duffy's. The knife was later found in

Ms Duffy's home, where Clark often stayed, with Clark's DNA on it. Clark later messaged friend after friend asking for somewhere to stay "for one night" as news broke of

Mr Donaldson's death. When one friend texted him: "Oi, Bamber's dead. Stabbed in Grangetown xxx" - Clark replied: "No way! x" A Tesco delivery driver told the

court he saw Mr Donaldson trying to get away from Clark as he drove past. And, Ms McElvaney testified that the victim went down to the ground, before getting back up and saying:

"I've been stabbed." He died at 10pm that night in James Cook University Hospital. The jury found Clark, of Ainthorpe Road, in Eston, guilty of murder; possession of a knife

and criminal damage. 'LIFE IMPRISONMENT' Judge Jonathan Carroll told him: "There is only one sentence - that's life imprisonment. The precise terms of that sentence will

be set out tomorrow (Thursday). In the meantime, you are remanded in custody." After the verdict, Senior Investigating Officer Matt Hollingsworth, said: “John fought for his life and

suffered a violent attack following a row over a bike. Our thoughts are with his family and friends as they continue to come to terms with what has happened. “Since Clark’s arrest, and

throughout the trial, he has continued to try and cover his tracks by telling lie after lie. Thankfully, the jury could see through this from the evidence that was laid out in front of him,

including numerous pieces of footage showing Clark’s movements in the run up to, during and after the murder of John. “Clark chose to slip through the net and go into hiding, even travelling

past the police cordon pretending he knew nothing about it and continuing to evade police in the days that followed. I know today’s verdict won’t bring John back or lessen the pain,

however, I hope it begins to bring some form of closure knowing justice has been served.” John’s family released the following statement: “On behalf of the family of John ‘Bamber’ Donaldson

we would like to thank all of the police investigation team in gathering the evidence, the CPS for presenting the case and the homicide service. Your support to the family has been

gratefully appreciated. “We would like to thank all the witnesses who found the strength to stand up and help get justice for Bamber. We are so grateful for everyone and will never forget

this as long as we live. Thank you to everyone involved.” FOR DAILY NEWS FROM TEESSIDE'S COURTS DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX, GO HERE TO SIGN UP TO OUR FREE COURT NEWSLETTER JOIN TEESSIDE

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