Brit ‘genius’, 37, stabbed to death at ‘Mad Hatter’s Tea Party’ hippy commune in ‘drug induced rage’ as tributes paid
THE FIRST pictures of a British man allegedly stabbed to death at a “Mad Hatter’s tea party” show a smiling “creative genius”.
Gifted artist Neil Sutcliffe, 37, has been identified as the alleged murder victim of British plumber Joshua Menkens, 28.
Menkens is accused of stabbing Neil to death with “exceptional violence” near a Portuguese commune in September last year – and of using tree branches and clothing to hide his body in woodland.
The identity of the plumber’s alleged victim had been kept a secret by police before they charged Menkens with crimes including homicide and “desecration of a corpse”.
Neil, a sound engineering and design university graduate known to friends as “Bingo“, was today named as Menkens’ alleged victim.
Touching messages shared in the wake of Neil’s untimely death paid tribute to a promising artist and former pupil at Bolton School who left his home town for London, where he lived on a boat.
Police said psychiatric tests suggested Menkens was suffering “psychosis” when he allegedly killed Neil at the four-day “Mad Hatter’s tea party” he helped organise.
Witnesses claimed Menkens had taken “hard drugs” during the party near Libelinha Venture, an off-grid community owned by UK-raised Xavier Hancock and his partner Arantxa Atauri, according to cops.
Menkens was understood to have been moved to a psychiatric hospital while on remand, at the request of a Portuguese magistrate.
His alleged victim Neil was one of six children.
Neil described himself on social media – where he shared his sketches and paintings – as a London-based artist who “wears silly costumes in genre defying escapades”.
A Bolton School magazine for its former students said he had been “unexpectedly taken from us while on holiday abroad,” adding: “He was always willing to light up a room with artwork or music, his spirit and talent will be sorely missed”.
One of Neil’s two older brothers, John Sutcliffe, revealed in a touching online post that a teacher had described his sibling as “one of the most musically-gifted children” he had ever taught.
John added: “In the last few years he made the decision to move to London and live on a converted lifeboat.
“He loved his new life and his new-found freedom. He had discovered himself and who he wanted to be.”
The grieving brother said he could not have been more proud of Neil’s “bravery and dedication to self-discovery”.
He added: “We will always love you, Neil. You will be so very, very missed by everyone.
“You are my baby brother, my gaming buddy, my miniature-painting pal, and my creative genius friend.
“Even though we didn’t see much of each other over the past few years, I will miss you more than you will ever know. The world is a darker and sadder place for you not being a part of it anymore.”
Neil’s mum Linda said she would love Neil “always and forever”.
Her tribute continued: “A part of me died with you. I’ll always be grateful you were ours and even though your life was tragically cut short you lived it to the full.
“Sleep easy my wonderful son.”
Neil’s friend Georgie Ringrose described him as being “a real bright light on the canals”, “always such a happy vibrant human”.
She said: “I’ll miss your wonderful collection of hats and tails, your biscuit teas, your artwork, your obsession with yellow and your incredible, incredible outfits.
“I will never ever forget you Neil, you are so special. Thank you for the laughs.”
Sutcliffe died on September 23 in woodland near a commune, close to the central Portuguese town of Pedrogao Grande.
An advertisement for the “Mad Hatter’s tea party”, which started on September 21 and was due to run until September 24, described the party as a “gathering filled with great music and fantastic souls”.
It urged those planning to attend to “show love, kindness, and respect to ourselves, each other, and the land” and to “listen to your body’s limits and take care of your physical and mental well-being”.
Portugal’s Policia Judiciaria police force said last month that an indictment had been filed by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the district of Leiria against Menkens for the crimes of homicide, possession of a prohibited weapon, and desecration of a corpse.
Shortly after Menkens was arrested and remanded in custody last September, the police force said: “The defendant, a foreigner and organiser of a party on a rural property, took the victim to an isolated forest location where armed with a knife, he attacked him with unusual violence stabbing him in several parts of the body and causing his death.
“After committing the homicide, the suspect hid the body using tree branches and pieces of clothing.”
The police force added that the victim, “a 37-year-old foreign man”, had travelled to Portugal to attend the event and did not appear to know the defendant personally.
No motive for the crimes had been determined.
