Man convicted of murder of 'loving father' in rampage on night out in Richmond

The murderer of a "loving father of two baby girls" has been convicted by a unanimous jury on Friday, September 20. Reece Newcombe, 31, was stabbed in the neck on a night out in Richmond in 2022 by Ross Hamilton, 34, with a piece of broken glass he concealed before they had a fight.

His family released an emotional statement after the conviction saying that they are "completely heartbroken" two years on from Reece's death and denouncing "the murderous moronic actions of Ross Hamilton".

In the early hours of November 26, 2022, Hamilton was in an aggressive and agitated state outside Viva nightclub on Ormond Road, near Richmond Bridge. It was the night of the World Cup game between England and the USA and before the fateful stabbing Hamilton had assaulted another man outside the club, as well as acting aggressively and unpredictably to several other people throughout the night.

READ MORE: Man in critical condition after being stabbed on residential street

A mugshot of Ross Hamilton
Ross Hamilton, 34, was convicted of the murder of Reece Newcombe, 31, after stabbing him with a concealed piece of broken glass during a fight on a night out in Richmond in 2022 -Credit:Met Police

Hamilton remained outside the club for 30 minutes after he assaulted the man, aggressively taunting security staff and others waiting for taxis.

Reece decided to intervene after seeing his aggressive behaviour and the two got into a fight. The struggle did not last long because Hamilton used a piece of broken glass and stabbed Reece in the neck before fleeing the scene in a vehicle.

Onlookers rushed to Reece's aid. An off-duty police officer who was passing by followed Hamilton and was able to describe the vehicle and the direction it went in. Officers quickly arrived and started giving Reece CPR until paramedics and the London Air Ambulance arrived.

Reece was taken to hospital but, despite the extensive efforts to save him, he sadly was pronounced dead in hospital some hours later.

The investigation

Reece Newcombe, 31
Reece Newcombe, 31, was found with serious injuries on Richmond Bridge at around 4am on November 26, 2022 -Credit:MPS

Murder detectives immediately launched an investigation, securing CCTV and interviewing numerous witnesses at the scene. A nearby 'Fanzone' had been showing the England Vs USA match which detectives discover Reece and Hamilton had both attended before heading to Viva nightclub but had not met during the event.

Hamilton had spent much of his night here being aggressive and unpredictable to several unconnected people in the Fanzone as well, CCTV and witness statements revealed.

Two days after the murder, Hamilton went to Acton police station and handed himself in, knowing that he was the subject of an extensive police manhunt. He was charged with Reece’s murder during the early hours of 30 November 2022.

Reece's family are "still deeply in mourning"

Reece Newcombe
Reece was always "bursting full of life and energy" -Credit:Glenn McCullogh

Reece's family issued a statement following the unanimous conviction. A spokesperson for Reece Newcombe’s family said: “Nearly two years have passed since we lost our beautiful Reece.

“Reece in life was the shining light at the centre of our loving family. That light was brutally snubbed out by the murderous moronic actions of Ross Hamilton, a callous bully on 26 November 2022. Many serious incidents involving Hamilton were recorded on CCTV as he bullied his way throughout the night.

“This resulted in him arming himself with a lethal weapon moments before deliberately striking our beloved Reece in the neck with a broken bottle. This culminated in the death of a 31-year-old loving father of two baby girls in the early hours of that fateful dreadful morning.

“Reece was only able to enjoy being a father to his baby daughter for five months. His second daughter whom he would never get to see was born the following summer of 2023 . The outpouring of grief after Reece’s passing was unprecedented, this showed the love people held for him. Four thousand people walked behind family members to lay wreaths at the spot where he was brutally murdered a week before.

"The outpouring of grief after Reece’s passing was unprecedented" -Credit:SurreyLive/Darren Pepe
"The outpouring of grief after Reece’s passing was unprecedented" -Credit:SurreyLive/Darren Pepe

“There is never a moment that goes by without us thinking of the beautiful soul that was our Reece. We, his family, are forced to navigate this cruel existence without him as we walk forward in life completely heartbroken.

“We are eternally grateful to the brave witnesses who came to court, to the police and the family liaison officers, also to the jury who weren’t intimidated or deceived by Hamilton as he lied his way through his testimony. As a family, still deeply in mourning, our wish going forward is that he now faces the full weight of the law in its entirety.

“The public, including the women he has previously attacked, will sleep better at night in the knowledge that he will no longer be at liberty to harm, maim or murder anybody else after his day of judgment . We will love you for eternity our beloved beautiful Reece.”

"It is clear that Hamilton was 'spoiling for a fight'" Police said

Detective Inspector Kevin Martin, from Specialist Crime South, said: “Today is about Reece and his family. My thoughts remain with them following this truly senseless tragedy, but particularly so in light of this result. Nothing will bring Reece back to them, but they have at least seen his killer held to account for his cowardly attack. They have remained resolute despite the nearly two years since Reece was murdered.

“Reece was simply out having a good night with friends. He was a much loved son, brother, partner and friend to many. He had recently become a father and had so much to look forward to.

“Hamilton was a stranger to him, yet his senseless violence took Reece’s life. It is clear that Hamilton was “spoiling for a fight” that night, attempting to square up to a number of people in the run up to the murder. Choosing to hide a broken piece of glass is an indication of the level of pre-meditation in his actions. Striking Reece in the neck meant he stood no chance of defending himself and Hamilton would have known that aiming directly for that area was likely to have catastrophic consequences.”

Hamilton is remanded in custody to appear at the same court for sentencing on Friday, 11 October.

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