A HAMPSHIRE coroner has ruled that a bricklayer who was stabbed to death by a Rambo obsessed knifeman was unlawfully killed.

Keith Wiseman recorded the verdict at the inquest into the death of murdered dad Neil Hampson, 32, who was knifed more than 20 times at a Southampton party.

The inquest was held after a Winchester Crown Court jury found Tony Wilkinson, 28, guilty of Mr Hampson’s murder and he was jailed for 18 years in July.

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Detective Inspector Darren Callaghan, who led the police investigation, told how the two men had earlier attended a boat party celebrating the 21st birthday of Danielle Gibbon.

Afterwards the pair returned with other partygoers to the 12th floor flat in Havre Towers, Weston, belonging to Wilkinson’s girlfriend Isla Jarvis.

The inquest was told how at around 2am an argument broke out between the two men and Wilkinson punched and repeatedly stabbed Mr Hampson of Magnolia Road, Merry Oak.

Wilkinson fled the scene leaving a trail of blood behind.

Police and ambulance crews were called while Miss Jarvis and another woman tried to help Mr Hampson.

Det Insp Callaghan said: “It was clear that he (Mr Hampson) was very badly injured. He was dying at the point of leaving the premises.”

Mr Hampson, known as Bones, was pronounced dead shortly afterwards at Southampton General Hospital.

The inquest was told that there was no history between the two men and that Wilkinson lived in Dorset and had only spent a few days in Southampton.

Det Insp Callaghan said Wilkinson had a fixation with knives.

“He had several of them at Havre Towers and there was photographic evidence of him (Wilkinson) holding several knives, including a Samurai sword, wearing a bandana.”

During Wilkinson’s trial the jury heard how he liked to dress up as film character Rambo and pose for photographs with vicious looking knives.

When he attacked Mr Hampson at the flat during the early hours of November 3, 2007, Winchester Crown Court was told he used a 12-inch blade to inflict the fatal wounds.

Mr Wiseman described Wilkinson of Merrow Avenue, Poole, as “a very dangerous man” and expressed his condolences to Mr Hampson’s family who did not attend the inquest.