Life sentences for knife death
Two men have been jailed for life and third for 15 years after a Sunderland man was stabbed to death
Lee Dawson suffered fatal knife wounds when he was attacked in Jutland Street, Preston, last summer.
BenjaminBibby,21,ofDawson Walk, Preston, and Andrew Wilcock, 29, of Lincoln Walk, Preston, were found guilty of murder by a jury at Preston Crown Court following a three-week trial.
Robert Cross, 34, of Milner Street, Preston, was convicted by the jury of Mr Dawson’s manslaughter but cleared of murder.
Kerry-Anne Metcalf, 39, of Dawson Walk, Preston was found guilty of assisting an offender.
Mr Dawson was killed in the early hours of June 17 last yearafterbeingstabbedseveral times, the fatal stab wound penetrating his chest cavity to a depth of 16cm.
The 42-year-old lived in Sunderland but had grown up in Preston, and he was back in his home city to attend a funeral.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Haworth-Oates of Lancashire
Police’s Force Major Investigation Team, said: “I welcome the significant sentences handed down by the judge which reflect the brutal nature of this offence.
“Peoplewhotakeknivesontoourstreets,whethertheyintendtousethemornot,should knowthattheyfacesignificant sentences.
“Sadly,wehaveacasewhere a man has lost his life through thiskindofsenselessviolence.
“Bibby and Wilcock could have walked away from their argument with Mr Dawson at any time but instead they went to collect knives, put on face coverings and lay in wait for him to come past before attacking him.
“Cross happened across
this incident by chance but again had a choice. He took the choice of joining the knifewielding attackers, further outnumberingMrDawsonand chased him down the street wherehewasstabbedtodeath.
“Kerry Ann Metcalf also had a choice – she chose to assist Cross after the offence by pouring liquid onto his hands.
“All of those involved left Mr Dawson on the pavement to die.”
Lee’s mum, Christine Dawson, said: “No sentence imposed will bring back a much-loved son, brother, father and friend or reflect the heartache and pain these people have inflicted on our family. It feels like a line has been drawn under Lee's life."