HARROWING footage has been released of a father celebrating his twin daughters’ second birthday moments before he was fatally stabbed to death.

Yesterday, a teenage boy was found guilty of the murder of father-of-four, James Gibbons.

The murder investigation was launched quickly after he was attacked near his own home in May.

Police cordoned off a large section of a residential area in Iris Mews, Laindon.

Multiple police cars and officers were spotted at the scene after the fatal stabbing.

At the time, Essex Police warned residents in the area to expect to see large numbers of officers and forensic experts throughout the day.

Residents have long referred to the estate as Alcatraz, a famous American prison, due to its fortress-like appearance.

Neighbours said a gang of yobs had been roaming the estate drinking in the lead up to the tragedy.

Initially four teenagers were arrested on suspicion of murder.

As the investigation progressed, five teenagers were arrested and questioned by police following the fatal stabbing of the father.

On May 8 a 16-year-old boy was charged with the murder of the dad-of-four and he then appeared in Chelmsford Magistrates Court.

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Detectives also arrested a sixth person in connection with their murder investigation. A 13 year-old boy was arrested on Thursday May 6 on suspicion of murder and was on bail until May 14.

Four other teenagers had also previously been arrested in connection with James’ murder.

The teen went on trial from October 6 at Chelmsford Crown Court and the case was told how Mr Gibbons died some time after 9.30pm that day, and that no weapon has been recovered.

The trial also heard that a homeless man "who had befriended Mr Gibbons in the days before his death", had gone to Mr Gibbons' house "in the hope of being given food" from a barbecue that Mr Gibbons was having to celebrate his twin daughters' birthday.