CHEF Jonathan Stasiuk has today admitted the murder of former councillor Gerry White.

The 60-year-old, of Pier Road, Sandown, originally denied murder but changed his plea today as his trial neared the end.

Mr White was killed at the Lake Community Gardens on May 27.

Police received a report that Mr White had been seriously assaulted and when officers attended they found the 73-year-old, of Talbot Road, Sandown, dead at the scene.

A post-mortem examination recorded the cause of death as compression of the neck.

A trial began at Southampton Crown Court on Monday, November 4.

Senior investigating officer, DI Toby Elcock, said: “This was a brutal attack on a much-loved and respected member of the community.

“Jon Stasiuk shockingly acknowledged that he was the man responsible for killing Gerry White, and yet showed absolutely no remorse for his death throughout the entire process until his trial.

“Late in this process he has come to terms with what he has done and has at last made full admissions to the jury, having previously tried to plead guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility – a plea that we did not accept.

“Our thoughts are with Mr White’s family and friends who have had to endure a lengthy criminal justice process.”

He will be sentenced at the same court on Thursday.

The trial had already heard that Stasiuk killed the councillor by slicing him with a chainsaw and strangling him following a 'festering dispute' over money.

Stasiuk and Mr White were trustees of the same charity and their relationship 'turned sour' as the pair waged war over fees as low as £25.

Stasiuk 'harboured a growing sense of grievance' as well as an 'entrenched hatred' for Mr White and on May 27 this year armed himself with a chainsaw before carrying out the attack.

After using the saw, Stasiuk, a chef, 'strangled and smothered' Mr White, a pub landlord and screamed at him to die.

Stasiuk initially tried to convince jurors he was guilty of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility but today admitted murder and 'at last made full admissions to the jury'.

Just yesterday (Monday) Stasiuk gave live evidence to try to prove he was innocent of murder.

He told them: "It was like a movie. I felt the whole thing was already on the rails, I did not have any particular control of it. I was almost watching myself as being in this situation."

Stasiuk also claimed he had been diagnosed with autism.

Mr Jewell QC said: "Stasiuk gave a full account over six interviews and told police officers he attacked Mr White with a chainsaw and then by strangling and smothering him until he believed he was dead.

"Stasiuk explained it was the result of a growing and festering dispute that had led to his actions on that day.

"He started the chainsaw and used it to cut his leg and then it stopped as it had no petrol and then, he says, he lost the plot."

He then strangled him to death.

Mr White was the landlord at the village's Stag Inn pub and leaves behind his wife Lee, who he has been with for 25 years, as well as his children and grandchildren.

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