Man convicted of murder after brutal attack on long-time elderly friend
A jury has found a man guilty of murdering his 93-year-old friend following a sustained assault fuelled by paranoia
Last updated 10 hours ago
A 40-year-old man has been convicted of murder after violently attacking his elderly friend of nearly two decades in a prolonged assault.
Samuel Michael Field was found guilty at Northampton Crown Court following an 11-day trial. The jury reached their verdict in under four hours.
The court heard that on 19 September 2024, 93-year-old Martin Glynn travelled, as he regularly did, from his home in Kings Heath, Northampton, to visit Samuel Field at his flat in Gold Street, Desborough. The journey was one he made at least weekly to see his long-time friend.
However, on this occasion, the visit turned fatal. Prosecutors said Field had become increasingly unwell mentally in the months leading up to the incident, developing paranoid beliefs involving a fabricated conspiracy in which he wrongly accused Mr Glynn of betrayal.
When Mr Glynn did not respond as Field expected, the court heard that he launched a sustained and violent attack, punching, kicking and stamping on the elderly man’s head before strangling him with such force that it fractured a bone in his neck. Mr Glynn also suffered extensive bruising and swelling.
Evidence presented at trial included hidden camera footage from inside the flat, showing Field behaving calmly while Mr Glynn lay motionless on the floor.
More than 24 hours after the assault, Field eventually contacted emergency services, making several calls to East Midlands Ambulance Service and giving what amounted to a full admission of what had happened. Police were alerted shortly afterwards.
When officers arrived, Field was waiting outside the property and told them he had “assaulted someone” and that he knew what he had done, continuing to describe the incident even after being cautioned.
Inside the flat, Mr Glynn was found in the bathroom, disoriented and seriously injured. He was taken to Northampton General Hospital, where doctors confirmed he had suffered multiple brain bleeds and a fractured neck.
Field was initially charged with grievous bodily harm with intent and remanded into custody by magistrates before the case was later escalated to the Crown Court. During his trial, he dismissed his legal team and chose not to present a defence, leaving the jury with no alternative but to convict.
Mr Glynn never recovered from his injuries and died on 26 December 2024.
On Tuesday, August 26 last year, at an appearance at Northampton Crown Court, Field was charged with Mr Glynn’s murder, and he was further remanded into custody to await trial.
Midway through his trial, Field opted to represent himself and dismissed his defence counsel before choosing not to provide a defence. This gave the jury no other option but to find him guilty of murdering Mr Glynn.
Speaking after the verdict, Deputy Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Sergeant Megan Scotney, of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit said: “Samuel Field described Mr Glynn as his best friend of almost two decades.
“However, instead of looking out for Mr Glynn, Field exploited their friendship and tortured the 93-year-old over 10-hours, inflicting the most horrific injuries on a vulnerable man, which ultimately cost him his life.
“Mr Glynn lived independently and through his loyalty to Field, travelled more than two hours from his home in Northampton to Desborough at least once, sometimes twice a week to visit him.
“Only Field knows why he attacked Mr Glynn that day, but I am pleased the jury has seen him for what he truly is – a dangerous, violent man.
“Nothing can bring Mr Glynn back, but I very much hope this guilty verdict offers his loved ones some comfort. Our thoughts remain with them all in their grief.”
Field will be sentenced at Northampton Crown Court on Friday, May 29.