Man jailed for life for murder of a friend
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Work from our specialist detectives has secured a life sentence for a man who was found guilty of murder of his friend.
Perry Coulson of Lesney Gardens, Rochford, appeared at Basildon Crown Court today, Friday 11 August, where he was sentenced to life in prison, to serve a minimum 16 years.
His sentence concludes a murder investigation, lead by Essex and Kent Serious Crime Directorate.
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The investigation was launched on Friday 25 November 2022, following reports of a man being seriously assaulted at an address in Lesney Gardens, Rochford.
Despite the best efforts of emergency services at the scene, 32-year-old father of two Dominic Clark-Ellingford died at the scene.
The call to police came from a family member of Perry Coulson, who he had called for help shortly after the assault. When police arrived, Coulson was sat outside the front of the address in a car. He was arrested on suspicion of murder.
Whilst in custody, Coulson made a number of significant comments including saying “this is what alcohol and cocaine causes, it’s my friend, that was my mate, I can’t believe it.”
Enquiries showed that the pair had known each other for around 20 years and had recently become close. It was claimed that the two had argued before Perry Coulson fatally assaulted Dominic with a large zombie knife.
Thirty-nine-year-old Perry Coulson was charged with murder on 27 November 2022 and remanded into custody.
During a seven-day trial at Basildon Crown Court, Coulson tried to argue that the murder was an act of self-defence. The court heard how Dominic had been attacked and left in the flat to die, while Coulson left the address and made attempts to conceal the knife he had used. The knife had been located close to the scene by police search dogs.
On Friday, 21 July a jury found Perry Coulson guilty of murder. On Friday 11 August he was sentenced to life in prison, to serve a minimum 16 years.
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Detective Chief Inspector Julie Gowen said:
“This was a tragic murder over a futile argument which has left two children without a father.
“In a previous tribute the family described how Dominic was a loving son and a doting father who adored his two young children.
“My thoughts today are with Dominic’s family and while no sentence will ever bring Dominic back, I hope this will allow them some peace, to move forward with their lives.”