A “COWARD” killer faces life in jail for the murder of an Edmonton teenager.

Tony Paul was convicted yesterday of gruesomely killing 18-year-old Michael Jones on the afternoon of March 13 this year.

Paul, a 46-year-old civil servant, of Gilbert Street, Enfield HIghway, was the jilted ex-lover of Michael’s mother, Kathleen Kirby-Jones.

The court heard he mutilated her son at the maisonette which was the family home, and then laid in wait to strike again.

When Mrs Kirby-Jones returned home she found her son’s body in a pool of blood beneath a table.

He had died of severe head injuries and a slashed wrist.

Then Paul pounced and she was forced to barricade herself in the room with her dead son until the killer left their house.

Police describe her ordeal as something straight from a nightmare.

At his trial, Paul blamed the slaying on two Jamaican gangsters.

Detective Chief Inspector John Macdonald, who led the investigation, spoke about Paul after the verdict and said: “Tony Paul is a coward. He has lied ever since his arrest, and won't accept responsibility for what happened.

“Mrs Kirby-Jones went through an ordeal that can only be described as a nightmare. I can't imagine a worse situation for any parent to be in, and she has shown immense strength to cope with it and to be able to attend court and give evidence.

“The story Paul gave in court about two 'Yardies' who he wouldn't name having committed the murder, was quite frankly embarrassing.

“It would have made things easier for Michael's parents if had he admitted his guilt in view of the overwhelming evidence against him, and if he had told us what actually happened and why it happened.

“Unfortunately he wouldn't do that.”

Paul will be sentenced on December 22.

Michael was described as a quiet and hard working young man with no enemies. His death was one of five teenage killings that shook Edmonton earlier this year.

The circumstances around his murder were different because there was no youth-on-youth or gang element Police have appealed for help recovering jewellery which disappeared in the incident. They are a 20 inch, nine-carat, gold neck chain with a crucifix and a figure of Christ on it. A distinctive gold ring with the initials MJ, and three white stones on the M initial.

The items were gifts from Michael’s father and have great sentimental value for the Jones family.

Call 020 8345 3985 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 with information.