{"id":8487,"date":"2026-07-11T11:01:12","date_gmt":"2026-07-11T11:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/man-30-killed-much-loved-dad-and-hid-body-under-tarpaulin-in-derelict-building\/"},"modified":"2026-07-11T11:01:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-11T11:01:12","slug":"man-30-killed-much-loved-dad-and-hid-body-under-tarpaulin-in-derelict-building","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/man-30-killed-much-loved-dad-and-hid-body-under-tarpaulin-in-derelict-building\/","title":{"rendered":"Man, 30, killed &#8216;much-loved dad&#8217; and hid body under tarpaulin in derelict building"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_3d5bec\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Junior Coleman was found beaten to death in a former social club in Lewisham last year, having sustained repeated blows to his head and face<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37417801\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Daniel Watkis\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37417801.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/2_LON_Daniel-Watkis.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37417801.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/2_LON_Daniel-Watkis.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37417801.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/2_LON_Daniel-Watkis.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37417801.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/2_LON_Daniel-Watkis.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Daniel Watkis will be sentenced later this year after he was found guilty of murder\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Daniel Watkis will be sentenced later this year after he was found guilty of murder<cite aria-label=\"Image: My London \/ BPM Media\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: My London \/ BPM Media)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A man who beat a &#8216;much-loved&#8217; dad to death before dumping his body in a derelict building has been found guilty of murder.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Woolwich Crown <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Court Link opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/courts\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Court <\/a>heard how Daniel Watkis brutally attacked Junior Coleman, 43, on July 9 last year. Watkis launched his <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"assault Link opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/crime\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">assault <\/a>on the victim in one area of the Brockley Social Club in Lewisham, where both men were sleeping rough, before relocating his battered body.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A post-mortem revealed he had died from a blunt force trauma to his head and face with injuries consistent of repeated heavy blows with a blunt object.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"CCTV Link opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/cctv-footage\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">CCTV <\/a>later rumbled the 30-year-old killer, as both Watkis and Coleman were seen walking towards the social club earlier that day. The footage then showed Watkis returning to the building later on at around 11pm, after which point detectives determined Coleman was fatally wounded.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">At around 11.40pm, the killer was spotted walking along Brockley Road where he made repeated glances back at the abandoned building. His suspicious behaviour mounted the next day, when he stopped using his usual number.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Weeks later, Watkis reported his bank card, which was later found next to Coleman&#8217;s body, as stolen.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The court heard he also discouraged others from reporting the victim as a <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"missing personLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/missing-persons\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">missing person<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37417802\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37417802\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:0.7761033369214209\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Junior Coleman\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37417802.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_LON_Junior-Coleman.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37417802.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_LON_Junior-Coleman.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37417802.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_LON_Junior-Coleman.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37417802.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_LON_Junior-Coleman.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Junior Coleman was sadly found fatally wounded with injuries consistent of repeated blows with a blunt object\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Junior Coleman was sadly found fatally wounded with injuries consistent of repeated blows with a blunt object<cite aria-label=\"Image: My London \/ BPM Media\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: My London \/ BPM Media)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">When officers searched the building, Coleman&#8217;s body was found concealed under a tarpaulin. They also discovered several of Watkis&#8217;s items, including his bank card and Freedom Pass, both of which were last used on July 9.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">His provisional driving licence was also near the body while a water bottle also forensically linked Watkis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He was attested on suspicion of murder on September 24 from his Hackney home. During interview, he mostly answered &#8220;no comment&#8221; but denied killing Coleman,<a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" reports My London.Link opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mylondon.news\/news\/south-london-news\/man-killed-much-loved-dad-34275054\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\"> reports My London.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Watkis even denied having known the victim, despite footage showing the pair had spent time together and had stayed at the former social club.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">On Friday (July 10), Watkis was found guilty of murder. He will be sentenced on October 9.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Detective Chief Inspector Suzanne Soren, who led the investigation, said: \u201cJunior Coleman was a much-loved son, brother, father and friend whose life mattered deeply to those who knew him. Today my thoughts are firmly with everyone who knew and loved him. Throughout this investigation, Mr Coleman\u2019s family have shown remarkable dignity, patience and strength. Nothing can undo their loss, but I hope today\u2019s verdict provides them with some measure of justice as they continue to grieve.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cThis was a complex investigation that relied on the determination and professionalism of detectives and forensic specialists who painstakingly pieced together hundreds of individual lines of enquiry over many months. They reviewed extensive CCTV, analysed digital and telecommunications evidence, traced Watkis\u2019 movements, secured crucial forensic opportunities &#8211; building a case that ensured Mr Coleman\u2019s family finally received the answers they deserved.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cToday\u2019s verdict means Daniel Watkis has been held accountable for taking Mr Coleman\u2019s life. It also sends a clear message that those responsible for the most serious crimes cannot rely on time, concealment or deception to escape justice. No matter how complex an investigation may be, we will continue to pursue every available line of enquiry to ensure those responsible are brought before the courts.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/uk-news\/dad-killed-body-hidden-building-37417761\" target=\"_blank\">Source link<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Junior Coleman was found beaten to death in a former social club in Lewisham last<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8488,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8487","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2_LON_Daniel-Watkis.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8487","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8487"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8487\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8488"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8487"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8487"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8487"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}