Three men who took part in a machete attack which left their victim’s arm “hanging off” face lengthy jail sentences after a jury convicted them of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
The trio, Micah Stoute, 25, Grant Melia, 41, and David Walpole, 41, were part of a joint attack on the man in Hammersmith Gardens, Houghton Regis, at around 6.30pm on Thursday, May 7 , 2020.
The three were driven to the scene by a woman.
Stoute, who went by the nickname “H” was armed with the machete at the time and he used it to strike the victim across his arm, causing a very serious injury and a significant loss of blood.
Although he had caused the injury, the prosecution’s case was that all three were responsible for the attack and were involved in a joint enterprise.
As for motive, the jury at Luton Crown Court was told that while it was not clear, one witness was later to tell police that Walpole may have been suspicions of an affair between his girlfriend and the victim.
Stoute of Garter Court, Knightsfield, Luton was found guilty of causing gbh with intent and a second charge of having a machete. Melia, of Southwood Road, Dunstable and Walpole, of Recreation Road, Houghton Regis were also convicted of causing gbh with intent.
Walpole was cleared of the theft of a Peugeot and arson of the Peugeot. All three are to be sentenced later this month when they are brought back to Luton crown court.
During the trial the court was told the victim, who had been sitting in a Audi car, had run into an alleyway pursued by the man with the machete where he was attacked.
After the attack when Stoute was asked by a woman what had happened, he replied: “Put it this way, his arm was hanging off.”
