By PA News Agency-
A homophobic man with a long-standing obsession with extreme violence has been found guilty of battering a man to death with a claw hammer in a darkened cemetery.
Erik Feld, 37, hid in the shadows behind a monument in east London before launching himself on unarmed Ranjith Kankanamalage in the early hours of the morning, the Old Bailey heard.
Mr Kankanamalage was hit 12 times in the face and head with the hammer, causing “catastrophic” injuries.
The 50-year-old victim was found by a member of the public on a path in Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park later on August 16 2021.
Jurors were told that Mr Kankanamalage was a regular visitor to the “spooky” cemetery, which was known as a “cruising” hotspot.
It was suggested in Feld’s defence that the defendant got “the wrong end of the stick” and hit out in self-defence after the victim’s “Gaydar malfunctioned” and he made a pass.
Under cross-examination, the defendant embarked on an astonishing homophobic rant about the victim, who has a family in Sri Lanka and was in a relationship in Britain.
Afterwards, prosecutor Paul Cavin KC told jurors that Feld had “dark places in his soul” that were “not in the darkest recesses but very near the surface”.
He said: “The extraordinary homophobic outburst is obviously something you will not forget.”
On the motive for murder, the prosecutor said: “Was he going there because that is where he knew people would be who he could attack? Was he going there to attack somebody he thought might be gay? Who knows.
“The evidence clearly demonstrates that prior to that evening, he had a deep-seated, long-standing serious interest in extreme violence using a hammer and that was an urge that could have been visited, perhaps, on anyone.”
The Old Bailey jury deliberated for three hours and 23 minutes to unanimously find Feld guilty of murder.
Mr Justice Bryan adjourned sentencing for a psychiatric report to be prepared on the defendant who has a personality disorder.
Erik Feld is a dangerous and violent man – while he has never disclosed why he attacked Ranjith with such force, he is clearly someone who is driven by an all-encompassing hatred
Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke
After the verdict, Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, from Scotland Yard, said: “From the outset, we have tried to ensure Ranjith’s extended family and friends, both in the UK and Sri Lanka, and the wider LGBTQ+ population in Tower Hamlets, were at the heart of our investigation.
“Erik Feld is a dangerous and violent man – while he has never disclosed why he attacked Ranjith with such force, he is clearly someone who is driven by an all-encompassing hatred.
“The advice and information we received from the Met’s pan-London LGBT+ Independent Advisory Group (LGBTAG), specialist charities and from LGBTQ+ individuals who trusted us to come forward during this investigation were invaluable.”
Tower Hamlets resident Jack Gilbert said on behalf of LGBTAG: “The violence Ranjith was subjected to was horrific and we welcome the verdict. Our condolences extend to his grown-up children, his former husband and his wider family and friends.
“The perception amongst LGBTQ+ people was, and remains, that this was a targeted attack.
“We worked closely with the local police and the homicide team to ensure that they incorporated learning arising from how the Met initially mishandled murders perpetrated by Stephen Port.
“At a time when trust and confidence is at an all-time low, we will continue to provide robust independent advice to improve the police service delivered to LGBTQ+ Londoners in all our diversity.”