Man convicted of murdering security guard during Moseley eviction dispute

An "obsessed" killer has been found guilty of murder after stabbing a security guard multiple times, who came to evict him from his flat due to unpaid rent.

Chad Henderson fatally attacked Nathan Burton, stabbing him four times in the chest at the address in Woodhurst Road, Moseley, shortly before 11pm on April 7, 2021.

The 46-year-old US national initially claimed self defence but refused to attend his trial and was today convicted of murder.

He will be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on October 26.

Mr Burton, aged 27, and from Wolverhampton had recently become a father at the time of his death.

'Nathan was cruelly and brutally taken away'

His father Rob said: "The last two-and-a-half years have been extremely traumatic and challenging for us as parents, Nathan’s brothers, his partner, family, friends and colleagues.

"Nathan was cruelly and brutally taken away from us in April 2021. Nathan had recently become a father to a little girl aged 10 months at the time of this tragedy.

"He was a doting father and she is now asking her mum the whereabouts of daddy. What does she tell our grand-daughter?

"The verdict does not bring Nathan back to us and we know that all we are left with is some great memories of a wonderful, kind and caring, selfless young man.

"Whilst justice has now been served. For us, as parents, partner, daughter, family, friends and colleagues our life sentence continues."

Henderson arrived in the UK in July 2020 and ended up racking up thousands of pounds worth of rent arrears at the flat in Woodhurst Road.

He refused requests to leave from the landlady who instructed a security firm to evict him.

When Mr Burton and his colleagues, who were licensed by the Security Industry Authority (SIA), first attended on April 7, 2021 Henderson waved what appeared to be a petrol bomb at them, although it transpired it was a fake.

Police were called and told them they would require a court order to evict Henderson.

But Mr Burton disputed the advice and returned with his colleagues shortly before 11pm. He went up the stairs to find them blocked by a sofa. Henderson then leaned over the banister and stabbed him in the chest.

The killer called police himself and told them 'I defended myself'. He later claimed he put measures in place to stop a US-style 'home invasion'.

Mr Burton was dragged outside but collapsed in the street and died within hours at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Detective Inspector Ade George, of West Midlands Police, said: "This was a very tragic case. Nathan was a loving father who was much loved by his family.

"They have all been truly devastated by their loss and our thoughts go out to them at this time."

He adds: "Henderson was a man obsessed with his property rights and exercising and protecting what he believed to be those rights. 

"He had decided he wouldn’t be resolved to move from the property, even if that cost was to the life of a person, which turned out to be Mr Burton. 

"We are pleased the jury have come to a decision of guilty and that he will be spending many years behind bars."

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