The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A Spalding man faces life imprisonment after he today (Wednesday, January 4) pleaded guilty to murdering one man and trying to kill another.
Darren Kirk, 52, died from a stab wound to the chest following an incident at a property in Cygnet Court on 20 December 2021.
Wayne Rule, 46, of Cygnet Court, Spalding, had previously denied murdering Mr Kirk.
He also denied the attempted murder of Mark Stone, who was injured on the same day at an address in Bowditch Road, Spalding.
Rule was due to go on trial at Lincoln Crown Court later this month.
However he today pleaded guilty to both charges when he appeared before Judge Simon Hirst at Lincoln Crown Court.
Rule was remanded into custody and will be sentenced by Mr Justice Holgate on January 16.
Judge Hirst told Rule: “You will be sentenced on 16 January by Mr Justice Holgate.
“Until then you are remanded into custody.”
A spokesman for Lincolnshire Police said: “Wayne Rule, 46, of Cygnet Court, Spalding, fatally stabbed Darren and attempted to kill another man in his 40s following a disagreement over drugs.
“The violence began in the early hours of Monday, January 20, 2021 and spread over two addresses.
“Officers were alerted to a report that the man in his 40s had suffered stab wounds at a property in Bowditch Road, Spalding at 12.26am. On arrival, they found the victim with multiple injuries in a bedroom, and administered first aid before he was taken to hospital.
“He named Rule as his attacker.
“Then, less than an hour later at 1.10am a second call came that a stabbing had taken place at Cygnet Court in Spalding. Officers immediately dispatched, and found Darren injured in the kitchen.
“He was sadly pronounced dead at 1.56am despite the best efforts of all those on scene.
“Wayne Rule was quickly identified as the suspect in that incident. Following several hours of negotiation by specialist officers at his address, which was also at Cygnet Court, he was arrested by 7am that morning.
“Today is the first time he has pleaded guilty for the murder of Darren Kirk and the attempted murder of the man in his 40s.”
Detective Chief Inspector Andy McWatt led the investigation. He said: “In December 2021 we were faced with a death and the attempted murder of two men which would have been wholly avoidable without the use of knives by Rule. He went to the addresses of both of these people and carried out his attacks.
“This has been a long investigation and something which has been further drawn out for the victims’ families due to Rule’s refusal to accept responsibility.
“We are very pleased that today he has now admitted the charges of murder and attempted murder and will be sentenced by the courts later this month.”
