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Teenage killer jailed for 12 years
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| STABBED: Sam Brown |
The man charged with the manslaughter of Blackpool teenager Sam Brown has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Thomas Knowles, 19, of Chipping Grove, will be eligible to apply for parole after five years.
Sam, 16, died from a single stab wound outside his home on Cockerham Walk, Grange Park, on May 21.
Knowles admitted manslaughter at Preston crown court and the prosecution accepted his not guilty plea to murder.
He had been due to face a re-trial after a jury failed to reach a verdict in the case in December.
Knowles also admitted wounding 28 year old Kevin Allen in an attack near Sam's home at Cockerham Walk on the Grange Park estate last May.
Sam's mother was consulted before the Crown accepted the plea to the lesser charge.
Judge Anthony Russell QC imposed an indeterminate sentence on Knowles for public protection.
During his trial Knowles claimed that he lashed out with a knife fearing he himself would be stabbed.
He also claimed he was scared and panicking at the time of the incident.
The prosecution alleged that Sam and his friend Mr Allen had earlier been involved in an incident outside Knowles' home.
Sam died after he was stabbed to the heart.
4:16pm Wednesday 19th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: apryl, eastbourne on 7:10am Thu 20 Mar 08
Disgusting, why should this lout be able to walk the streets again in 12 years, possibly even after 5 - what sort of justice is that. He took a life of a 16 year old with his future ahead of him why should he have a future, bring back capital punishment - an eye for an eye!
Disgusting, why should this lout be able to walk the streets again in 12 years, possibly even after 5 - what sort of justice is that. He took a life of a 16 year old with his future ahead of him why should he have a future, bring back capital punishment - an eye for an eye!
Posted by: KELLY, BLACKPOOL on 8:15am Thu 20 Mar 08
THANKYOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT,SAM WAS MY LITTLE BROTHER,SAM WOULD HAVE BEEN 21 WHEN THIS MAN WALKS FREE,WE HAD NO CHOICE TO ACCEPT THE MANSLAUGHTER PLEA AS WE DIDNT WANT TO TAKE THE RISK OF HIM WALKING STRAIGHT OUT OF COURT IF THE JURY COULD NOT FIND HIM GUILTY.WE WERE EXPECTING HIM TO GET ABOUT 8 YEARS SO ITS GOOD THAT HE GOT 12,BUT NOWAY NEAR AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM GET
THANKYOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT,SAM WAS MY LITTLE BROTHER,SAM WOULD HAVE BEEN 21 WHEN THIS MAN WALKS FREE,WE HAD NO CHOICE TO ACCEPT THE MANSLAUGHTER PLEA AS WE DIDNT WANT TO TAKE THE RISK OF HIM WALKING STRAIGHT OUT OF COURT IF THE JURY COULD NOT FIND HIM GUILTY.WE WERE EXPECTING HIM TO GET ABOUT 8 YEARS SO ITS GOOD THAT HE GOT 12,BUT NOWAY NEAR AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM GET
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