Man jailed for stabbing - STEVENAGE

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A man was jailed for seven years today, Friday, 3 November 2017, for a  late-night stabbing at a Stevenage flat after a drinking session.

Roy  O'Donoghue, aged 36, attacked the victim, who was living at the address  in Spencer Way. He said had gone there on 9 April last year with  co-defendant Pearce McGinnity, who had previously lived there.

St  Albans Crown Court heard they had gone to collect Mr McGinnity's bags  after the woman, whose flat it was, had asked him to leave. In the flat,  the victim was punched, struck on the head with a Corona beer bottle  and knifed. He received medical treatment in the street before being  taken to hospital to be treated for six lacerations.

Roy  O'Donoghue of Ditchmore Lane, Stevenage was found not guilty, after  trial, of attempted murder, but guilty of an alternative charge of  wounding with intent.

Pearce McGinnity, aged 27, of Parkers Field, Stevenage, was found not guilty of the same charges.

The  jury heard that the two men had been drinking beers with another man at  his flat in Harrow Court when they decided to collect Mr McGinnity's  belongings. Mr McGinnity said when he arrived at the flat in Spencer  Way, the woman started shouting at him. He said he took his two bags and  left.

Man jailed for manslaughter - Stevenage |News, Violent crime

A man appeared at Luton Crown Court today,  Friday, 15 December 2017, and was jailed for 10 years for the  manslaughter of a man in Stevenage in March this year.

Robert  Fisher, aged 31, of Nightingale Road, Hitchin, was sentenced today after  pleading guilty at Luton Crown Court on Monday, 11 September 2017, to  the manslaughter of William Floyd, aged 57.

Robbie Weber, Senior  Crown Prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)  said: “On Monday, 6 March 2017, Robert Fisher was in Mr Floyd’s flat in  Harrow Court, Stevenage when they had an argument, which resulted in  Fisher assaulting Mr Floyd and stabbing him to the side which penetrated  the chest puncturing his lung. Fisher fled the scene leaving Mr Floyd  to bleed to death. A week later, on Sunday, 12 March 2017, police found  Mr Floyd dead in his flat.

“The motive for the brutal killing is  believed to be Fisher’s angry response to the fact that Mr Floyd was due  to give evidence at a murder trial where the two defendants were  friends of his.

“Fisher answered ‘no comment’ during police  interviews. However, on 11 September 2017, at Luton Crown Court, owing  to the strength of evidence against him (CCTV, forensic evidence, mobile  phone cell site data), Fisher pleaded guilty to manslaughter, as an  alternative to murder, and this plea was accepted by the prosecution  team.

“We have worked closely with the Bedfordshire,  Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit since this  investigation was launched and as a result of the hard work and  diligence of the prosecution team, a just outcome has been achieved. The  CPS and police are committed to protecting the public from violent  criminals and will continue to vigorously prosecute all such offenders.  Today’s sentence should act as a deterrent to others that violence will  simply not be tolerated in our communities.

“We know that nothing  will bring Mr Floyd back to his family and friends, but we hope that the  conviction and today’s sentence bring them at least a small sense that  justice has been done. Our thoughts are very much with them all at this  time.”

Detective Sergeant Jo Goodson from the Bedfordshire,  Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit said: “After refusing  to answer all questions put to him during police interviews following  his arrest, Fisher admitted stabbing Mr Floyd at Luton Crown Court on  Monday, 11 September.

“Although he has revealed that he carried  out the attack following an argument at Mr Floyd’s home he has never  explained exactly why he decided to stab Mr Floyd. This has left his  grieving family with many unanswered questions.”