The family of fatal stab victim Malcolm Walsh paid tribute to the brother they have lost.

The father-of-two, of Shannon Close, Leigh, died from a single knife wound to the heart during a scuffle with Terry Watkins, 54.

He would have celebrated his 33rd birthday on March 3 - the third day of the murder trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Watkins, 54, was jailed for life on Thursday after a jury found him guilty of the manslaughter of Mr Walsh on June 10 last year in Locksley Close, near Bournes Green Park, Southend.

After returning their verdict the jurors heard that Watkins was also jailed in 1986 by the same court for two counts of wounding with intent.

He was convicted of forcing his way into an ex-girlfriend's house where he knifed both her and the man she was then in a relationship with.

In a statement, Mr Walsh's three sisters and brother said today: "We know Malcolm was no angel and we are not saying he was but he would not have had anything to do with drugs.

"The court was told he was high on cocaine that morning, yet the post mortem examination found nothing.

"It isn't fair on those who are left behind to have to deal with what has been said.

"We want to put all this behind us and remember Malcolm for what he was - a loveable rogue.

They added: "Because of the tests on Malcolm's body we weren't able to bury him until two months after he was killed.

"It was a really stressful time - we wanted to put him to rest but couldn't.

"It is almost a year later now and it is still not over."

Victim - a treasured family picture of Malcolm Walsh who was stabbed to death

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