Man who murdered Boston pub manager Adrian Whiting faces wait for life prison sentence details

The sentence of a man found guilty of murdering Boston pub manager Adrian Whiting was today (Friday) adjourned for two months by a judge.

Maskim Iliev, 36, of Union Street, Boston, was due to be sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court after a jury found him guilty of murder following a two week trial in July.

The jury also convicted Iliev's partner, Katya Tsoneva, 34, of Red Lion Street, Boston, of assisting an offender between 13 and 25 January this year.

Both defendants were due to be sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court.

Iliev faces a mandatory life sentence for murder and the trial judge must decide the length of time he will serve in jail before he is considered for release.

But a hearing at Lincoln Crown Court was today told that further time was needed to gather medical evidence on behalf of Tsoneva.

Judge Simon Hirst adjourned the case for the sentence of both defendants at Lincoln Crown Court on October 28.

Tsoneva was granted bail until that date and Iliev remains remanded into custody.

Iliev was found guilty of murder after he struck Mr Whiting to the head with a fierce blow from his own metal baseball bat.

Jurors heard Mr Whiting collected the metal bat and went to the front door of his pub to ‘warn off’ Iliev after the Bulgarian was heard rowing in the street with Tsoneva.

CCTV showed Iliev taking the metal bat from Mr Whiting and striking him twice.

Jonathan Cox, prosecuting, told jurors: "The second blow, in particular, aimed and landed to the head of Adrian Whiting.

"The blow was fierce. It caused Adrian Whiting to collapse and fall to the floor.

"Mr Whiting never recovered from the injury sustained in that attack. Despite the best efforts of medical professionals, he died 10 days later."

Following the attack Tsoneva packed items for Iliev and then used cash and jewellery to pay for his flight out of the UK.

Iliev was detained before he boarded a flight at Luton airport.