Man jailed for life for murder of Lee Wellard

Jan 21 2009 by Ross McCarthy, Birmingham Mail

David Williams QC, prosecuting, said there had been a “background” between the two men, and that Mr Wellard, aged 34, was known to have made disparaging remarks about the defendant because of his supposed interest in young girls.

This was based on the fact that O’Keefe had been accused of sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl, although he was later acquitted following a trial.

On August 2 last year, O’Keefe and Mr Wellard had gone to a party being held in Faulkners Farm Drive, Wyrley Birch.

At one point during the evening, after O’Keefe had suggested going to another party, Mr Wellard had called the defendant a paedophile and a nonce.

O’Keefe went home, brooded about what had happened, and returned to the party about 10 minutes later, rushing up to the victim and stabbing him twice in the neck.

Mr Williams said O’Keefe was later caught on CCTV in Erdington High Street going to an off-licence serving hatch and re-enacting what he had done.