Man admits stabbing Indie band singer
A SOUTHPORT man admitted stabbing a teenage member of indie band The Kairos.
Thomas Dempsey and Lewis Chambers, from the Formby-based group, were attacked in the early hours of Sunday, March 1.
Police were called to reports of a fight in
Church Street in Liverpool city centre at around 4am.
The band’s singer Mr Dempsey, 19, suffered a stab wound to the chest, while guitarist Mr Chambers, 19, was cut to the face.
Mr Dempsey was initially said to be in a critical condition, which led to a wave of messages of support, including a tweet from former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher.
He tweeted to his 3.2m Twitter followers: “Sending love n light to Tom and Lewis from The Kairos thinking of you both, LG x.”
Mr Dempsey was later discharged from hospital, much to the relief of family and friends.
Following a CCTV appeal, two men were arrested and charged.
Martin Stroud, 20, of Liverpool Road, Southport, and Jason Medlicott, 20, of Leinster Road, Old Swan, denied wounding both Mr Dempsey and Mr Chambers with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
They also denied charges of affray and possession of an offensive weapon in public, in respect of Medlicott namely “a pocket knife”, and in respect of Stroud namely “a key with a concealed knife”.
However, ahead of a trial set to open at Liverpool Crown Court, Stroud pleaded guilty to the wounding with intent of Mr Dempsey.
Medlicott admitted the lesser charge of wounding Mr Chambers.
Both men admitted affray and possessing an offensive weapon in public.
Robert Wyn Jones, prosecuting, said those pleas were acceptable to the Crown Prosecution Service.
Judge Andrew Menary, QC, said the pair would be sentenced on November 4 and ordered pre-sentence reports.
He remanded both men in custody – Stroud in prison and Medlicott at the Scott Clinic, a medium secure psychiatric unit in Rainhill.
The Kairos consist of Mr Dempsey on lead guitar and vocals, Mr Chambers on guitar, Owen Forrester on bass and Sam Bradley on drums and backing vocals.
The up-and-coming group have played at many of the city’s music venues including Heebie
Jeebies, The Zanzibar, The Arts Club, 02 Academy, Invisible Wind Factory and Jimmy’s.
Speaking after his ordeal, Mr Dempsey said: “The love and support shown over the last couple of days has been nothing short of unbelievable.
“Every message and post off everyone has meant everything.
“I will always be grateful to all at Fazakerley and Broadgreen that make up the NHS and the emergency services. “Thank you.” Meanwhile, his dad Ade Dempsey also praised the NHS who saved his son’s life.
He tweeted: “To all the emergency staff who helped us thru [sic] this, we are forever grateful.
“We have our son home thanks to them.
“We so nearly didn’t. “Thank you all for the positive messages and for those that donate blood... forever grateful to you ALL!”