This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/8126350.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Man cleared of canal boat murders Man cleared of canal boat murders
(about 1 hour later)
A man who stabbed his partner and his best friend to death after he found them having sex on his canal boat has been cleared of their murders.A man who stabbed his partner and his best friend to death after he found them having sex on his canal boat has been cleared of their murders.
At Reading Crown Court, William Cranston was convicted of manslaughter by reason of provocation of Kay Morton, 39, and Paul Wilkins, 55. William Cranston was convicted, at Reading Crown Court, of manslaughter, by reason of provocation, of Kay Morton, 39, and Paul Wilkins, 55.
The incident happened on a narrow boat in Stoke Hammond, Buckinghamshire, in September.The incident happened on a narrow boat in Stoke Hammond, Buckinghamshire, in September.
Cranston, 44, will be sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on 22 July.Cranston, 44, will be sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on 22 July.
The court heard Cranston, Ms Morton and Mr Wilkins had all been drinking at a nearby pub before continuing drinking and smoking cannabis on the boat.
'Lashed out'
Cranston went to bed but later woke up to find his partner and friend having sex.
He told police after the incident: "Paul jumped up and came towards me.
"I can't remember picking up the knife. When he came towards me, I just sort of lashed out to find out what was going on.
"Literally five seconds later, they were both on the floor bleeding to death, and I've got a knife in my hand."
Cranston called 999 and gave the pair chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, but they could not be revived.
'Ultimate betrayal''Ultimate betrayal'
The court heard Cranston, originally from Newcastle upon Tyne, "lost his rag" but he said he was "devastated" by the deaths. The court was told Cranston's baby son, Kevin, had died the previous February on the sofa where he discovered the pair.
The court was told Cranston's baby son, Kevin, had died the previous February on the sofa where he discovered the pair and he had "lashed out" to stop them leaving the room.
Kevin, who was 55 days old, was named after Cranston's brother, who was killed by a house fire in Australia.Kevin, who was 55 days old, was named after Cranston's brother, who was killed by a house fire in Australia.
Cranston told the court: "I can't believe this has happened to everybody. I just walked in there and lost my rag completely."Cranston told the court: "I can't believe this has happened to everybody. I just walked in there and lost my rag completely."
Psychiatrist Dr Philip Joseph, who examined Cranston, said he had suffered "the ultimate betrayal" by Ms Morton, and that catching the pair having sex on the sofa where his son died was "the last straw".Psychiatrist Dr Philip Joseph, who examined Cranston, said he had suffered "the ultimate betrayal" by Ms Morton, and that catching the pair having sex on the sofa where his son died was "the last straw".