34 Years In Prison For Man Guilty Of Adrian Greenwood's Murder
24 October 2016, 15:14 | Updated: 24 October 2016, 16:56
A jury has found a 50 year old guilty of murdering historian Adrian Greenwood and he has now been jailed.
Michael Danaher has been found guilty of murdering historian and book dealer Adrian Greenwood in Oxford and he has now been jailed for 34 years.
The 50-year-old was found guilty by a jury in less than three hours and he also received a concurrent seven-year sentence for possession of an offensive weapon. The prosecution offered no evidence to a further charge of blackmail.
In April, Danaher went to Mr Greenwood's home to steal his rare copy of 'The Wind in the Willows' which is worth around 50 thousand pounds. He stabbed Adrian Greenwood to death in the historians own home on Iffley Road. His body was found the following day by his cleaner with more than 30 injuries.
Danaher, who is from Peterborough in Cambridgeshire, claimed he acted in self-defence after Mr Greenwood attacked him when he went to buy books from him.
It has since been discovered that Greenwood's name was on a 'clinical' spreadsheet made by Danaher containing high-profile targets for theft, robbery and ransom demands, including supermodel Kate Moss and author Jeffrey Archer. He also searched online for the homes of TV presenters Eamonn Holmes and Michael Parkinson, footballer Rio Ferdinand and Music mogul Simon Cowell. Former FA chairman Greg Dyke, commentator Katie Hopkins, 'Louise Redknapp house' and 'Lineker House' were also included on his online searches.
Danaher, who was in 13 thousand pounds’ worth of debt, claimed a mystery 'unknown man' created the list and he also said the man came to his flat and used his computer and mobile phone. He refused to identify him, saying he had received threats while on remand in prison. A stun gun was also found in his flat, which he said was for protection from the 'unknown man'.
The murder weapon was found at his flat in Hadrians Close and he took the book and put it up for sale on eBay the following day.
He nodded in the dock as the jury found him guilty of murder after a trial lasting more than three weeks.
Judge Pringle said:
'Despite the fact that at 50 you had no previous convictions, warnings or cautions of any sort, it's clear that during the course of 2015 you drew up this list - probably to rob or burgle people - or perhaps kidnap people and hold them to ransom, so as to gain funds for yourself.
It's clear from the timeline in this case you became almost obsessive about keeping up on famous celebrities.
You inflicted upon Adrian Greenwood torture by way of the stab wounds, the knife-tip stab wounds, that he had on him.'
Mr Greenwood's family issued a short statement saying they were `pleased justice has been done for Adrian through this conviction'.
Detective Superintendent Kevin Brown, from Thames Valley Police, speaking outside court, said:
`Today's conviction is not going to bring them comfort but I can say that they are satisfied that the person that has taken away their loved one has been punished severely.
''dangerous'' Danaher had been callous and arrogant, stealing the valuable book along with a camera and other items after the killing.
It was two hours before Danaher left the house with a number of items. Such was his arrogance he even took a selfie on the way out from the address.'