Thaxted: 51-year-old man convicted of murder

A 51-year-old man from Thaxted has been convicted of murder after a violent assault in the victim’s own garden.

Kevin Horswill, of Magdalen Green in the village, had been at The Star public house in Mill End on the evening of 17 March 2024 when Richard Langley arrived.

During the course of the evening the two were involved in an altercation before 52-year-old Richard left.

Richard can be seen on CCTV walking the dog in the village later that evening, when Horswill appears shortly after on the same cameras walking the same route before fatally assaulting him in the garden of his address in Orchard Close.

Horswill tried to deny he instigated the assault at his trial at Chelmsford crown Court, but the jury refused to believe he acted in self-defence and convicted him of murder by majority verdict on 28 January 2025.

He will be remanded in custody until his sentencing at the same court on 29 January 2025.

Detective Superintendent Ant Alcock said:

“My thoughts and condolences remain with Richard’s loved ones as they have done throughout this investigation.
“This has been a complex and detailed investigation – it is important the jury have reached their verdict today and I’d like to thank them for their role in this trial.
“Horswill carried out a violent and premeditated attack, spurred on by an argument at a pub just hours before.
“His argument of self-defence was completely undermined by the case built by our skilled investigators, which left the jury in no doubt he was guilty.
“We now await his sentencing.”

The case built by our officers was underpinned by a detailed timeline of CCTV from throughout the evening of the attack.

We tracked the movement of Richard and Horswill from their altercation in The Star earlier in the evening, which clearly showed Richard leave the pub and walk his dog.

Horswill was shown around 20 minutes later taking the same route Richard took across the village, and their two figures can be seen at Orchard Close before Horswill then leaves the scene minutes later with serious head injuries.

Witnesses reported hearing this assault and members of the public came to assist with CPR while paramedics rushed to try and help Richard.

He was arrested at his address in the early hours of 18 March and was taken into custody following hospital treatment. He was later charged with murder and was remanded in custody.

Det Supt Alcock added:

“This case was only made so strong by the work of dozens of officers carrying out enquires, taking witness statement and gathering the forensic evidence to make a complete picture of the events of that evening.
“I’d like to thank all of them for their commitment throughout this investigation.
“I’d also ask the privacy of Richard’s family is respected at this time.”

At Essex Police we put victims at the heart of everything we do. The Victims’ Code explains the rights that everyone can expect to receive as a victim of crime, and helps us define what we must do for all victims from their initial contact with our force until the conclusion of their case.

Find out more about the code and to understand the rights of a victim of crime, on our support for victims and witnesses of crime page.

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