Relatives of Mothers' Day murder victim Billy Sullivan cheered as his killer was jailed for life at the Old Bailey on Friday.

Mr Sullivan, 20, punched landscape gardener Richard Eccles, 38, of Leigh Hunt Drive, Southgate, during a fight in the former Northern Star pub in High Road, New Southgate, on March 10 this year.

Eccles left the pub and grabbed a knife from his pick-up truck before returning to stab Mr Sullivan with such force that he penetrated his spine, before speeding off.

The court heard the killing ended a 24-hour drink and drug binge that Eccles had been on with the victim's brother.

The duo had been partying at a Greek restaurant until 7am and carried on drinking in the pick-up truck while they waited for the pubs to open on Mothers' Day.

The court was told that a cocaine dealer had been working in the Northern Star a pub described in court as rough and tough'. Eccles took some of the cocaine in the toilet to help him stay awake.

Proescutor Bruce Holder QC told the court that Mr Sullivan's wound was so bad that his intestines were quite literally hanging out'. Eccles denied murder, claiming Mr Sullivan, of Carpenter Gardens, Winchmore Hill, had pulled a knife on him after he refused to give him a line of cocaine. He said Mr Sullivan was stabbed when he struggled to defend himself.

But the jury of five women and seven men rejected the account after three hours of deliberation and convicted Eccles of murder.

One of Mr Sullivan's friends shouted: "Rot in hell," as Eccles was led away to the cells.

October 2, 2002 13:00