Nightclub Owner's Son Charged

15 December 2014, 18:13

The son of a London nightclub tycoon has appeared in court charged with his murder.

David West, 44, of Jermyn Street, central London, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court charged with the murder of his father, also called David West.

The body of Mr West, 70, was found at a residential address - believed to be his home - in Ormond Yard behind Jermyn Street, near Piccadilly, on the night of Friday 12 December 2014.

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as a single stab wound.

Mr West was a self-styled lord who reportedly owned the nightclub Hey Jo, as well as Abracadabra, a restaurant which specialises in Russian cuisine. Both are located close to his home.

He has been described as a flamboyant figure and is said to have bought the title of "Lord of the Manor of Hollesley" on eBay.

He made his fortune selling alcohol from a Calais warehouse called Eastenders, having started in business selling flowers and groceries from a stall in Romford market in east London.

In 2007 he made headlines after he hired Cherie Blair to mount a legal challenge against the smoking ban.

District judge Margot Coleman referred the case to Old Bailey, where it will be heard on Wednesday.