A father and his son have been found guilty of murdering his wife’s new partner after they found him hiding in a wardrobe.
Wayne Peckham, 49, and his son, Riley Peckham, 23, were both jailed for life, for a minimum of 24 and 18 years respectively, for killing Matthew Rodwell, 39.
After their sentencing at Norwich Crown Court on Tuesday, police said the father and son acted “in jealous rage, like a pack of animals”.
The pair hunted Rodwell down and found him hiding in a wardrobe at his home in Downham Market, Norfolk, in January 2022.
Wayne Peckham, estranged from his wife Kerry Peckham, let himself into the house she shared with Rodwell after her son Riley Peckham had climbed through a first-floor window.
The father and son, from Hilgay, Norfolk, beat and strangled Rodwell to death in front of Mrs Peckham.
The pair had denied murder but were found guilty on Tuesday following a six-week trial.
Wayne Peckham was also convicted of two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm over an earlier assault against another man which happened in Downham Market in December 2021.
The Victim Rodwell, who was a refuse worker and father-of-two, hid in the wardrobe and made a 999 call to police, while Riley was heard in the background shouting, “You are going to die”.
Riley Peckham and Mr Rodwell fought upstairs, before the victim ended up at the bottom of the stairs where the attack continued. He died at the scene. The cause of death was later declared to be manual strangulation.
Rodwell had suffered 40 “significant” injuries from being kicked, stamped and punched.
Senior investigating officer, Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Chris Burgess, from Norfolk Police, said: “Wayne and Riley acted in jealous rage, like a pack of animals, and the sentences passed today mean they can longer be a danger to anyone else.
“As ever, our thoughts remain with Matthew’s family and friends, and we will continue to support them for as long as they need.”
