Two men found guilty of 'senseless' murder in Harlow

Igors Andersons, 19, of Tickenhall Drive, Harlow, and Jayden Drake, 25, of Maclean Road in Bournemouth, have been convicted of killing Cristian-Marin Patru.

Mr Patru was found collapsed on the floor of a property in The Hides in Harlow at around 5.40pm on November 8 last year.

Essex Police says he was suffering from stab wounds to his chin, back and neck, and he died at the scene.

Victim Cristian-Marin Patru. Credit: Essex Police

A murder inquiry was launched and detectives established a link between Mr Patru and drug dealer Drake, who was running the ‘Bobby Davro’ drug line in Harlow.

Police say Drake and Andersons’ fingerprints were found on a number of items in one of the bedrooms.

A manhunt for the pair led officers to an address in Bournemouth where they were arrested on November 11.

Mr Patru’s blood was found on Drake and Andersons’ clothing and shoes, some of which was discarded at the address where they were arrested.

Jayden Blake. Credit: Essex Police

Each facing a charge of murder, in court, Drake claimed Andersons had stabbed Cristian but claimed he was looking away at the moment of the attack.

Andersons claimed he blacked out at the moment the injuries were inflicted but assumed he had caused the injuries - however he claimed it must have been in self-defence.

At Chelmsford Crown Court on May 31, the pair were convicted of murder. They will be sentenced on July 22.

Igors Anderson. Credit: Essex Police

Detective Chief Inspector Ant Alcock said: “Cristian was killed in a brutal and senseless attack.

“Jayden Drake and Igors Andersons used extreme violence to take Cristian’s life in a planned attack.

“They are now facing spending a significant amount of time behind bars and Essex is a safer place because of this.

“No court result will ever bring Cristian back but I hope the conviction of these two men will help his family move forward.”

A third man, 18-year-old Fraser Chung, of Tudor Avenue in Cheshunt, was found not guilty of murder.