A 16-year-old boy has been jailed for at least 15 years after he murdered a man by stabbing him with a kitchen knife.
Connor Doughton, of Apollo Way, Blackwood, stabbed 29-year-old Michael Lee Emmett on August 1 last year.
At a hearing in Cardiff Crown Court today, January 15, the teenager was also sentenced for two counts of wounding with intent, assaulting a police officer and breaching an antisocial behaviour order.
The court was told how Mr Emmett, a father of twin boys, was stabbed by Doughton on Apollo Way after he and a friend, 44-year-old John Williams, tried to take him home from a Cefn Fforest pub.
Doughton, who was a friend of Mr Williams’ son, had been drinking cider and taking valium when he became abusive towards a woman at the Stonehouse pub.
The two men took him home to Apollo Way and a scuffle ensued in which Mr Emmett hit Doughton at least once, the court was told. The teen, who has a history of offences and spent time in care and secure custody, then ran into his house and grabbed a kitchen knife.
He stabbed Mr Emmett in the back and chased him before then turning the blade on Mr Williams, who suffered back and elbow injuries. He also had to undergo surgery to repair a damaged bladder.
Mr Emmett suffered a 3cm wound to his liver and died in hospital on September 2 after complications from a transplant.
His partner, Natalie Preece, gave birth to Mr Emmett’s third child, a daughter called Lola, just a week before he died.
In a victim statement read to the court, Ms Preece said: “The only photograph they have taken together was on the day he died. As he lay brain dead, unconscious in his hospital bed.”
She described how their sons were scared to go upstairs alone and have not slept in their own beds since the attack.
Ms Preece said: “My boys are just eight years old and have been put through hell. For 28 days they asked for him, cried for him, called for him. My boys are saying they are waiting for Easter as dad will come back to life like Jesus did.
“Losing Mike has affected every single part of my life. I’m just 28-years-old. Six months ago my life was perfect. I shared it with the man I loved.
“I have had to give permission for the man I love to have his life support switched off. I can’t explain how this felt but I hope none of you will have to feel even a fraction of the pain I have felt.
“He chose to take away my soul mate, my children’s father. Our lives have been devastated in every single way. I can’t believe the evil we’ve faced.”
She ended the statement by describing how difficult Christmas was without Mr Emmett, saying “he’s been replaced by sorrow and misery”.
Barrister James Wilson, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court that witnesses had heard Doughton say “I’ll go to prison for this, I’ll do time” and “I hope he dies”.
Barrister Lucy Crowther, defending, said Doughton’s family wanted the court to know they felt “utter sorrow for the heinous offences their son has committed”.
She said: “He has asked it to be said in open court that he is truly remorseful for his appalling crimes.”
Sentencing Doughton to a minimum of 15 years in prison, Mrs Justice Nicola Davies said: “Neither victim did anything to provoke the stabbing. Nothing they said or did could begin to justify your taking a knife still less pursuing them down the road and in turn stabbing each of them.
“In taking the life of Michael Emmett you have robbed twin boys, aged eight, of their father.
“His daughter, born when her father was critically ill in Kings College Hospital, will never know him.
“Natalie Preece lost not only her much loved partner and father of her children, she has lost a source of strength and support within this close family. Their losses are devastating, such remorse as you have demonstrated has been limited.”
Members of the packed public gallery clapped and waved at Doughton as he was led away.
But family members said the sentence was not long enough.
Mr Emmett’s sister, Kaley Emmett, said: “I’m angry, really angry. It’s nowhere near good enough, nothing would have been good enough to me.
“It’s what’s happened to my nephews and niece. My father’s heart broken.”
DI Nicky Brain said: “This was a tragic incident that took Michael Lee Emmett’s life and changed the lives of his family and loved ones forever, our thoughts remain with them at this time.
“A second man also sustained serious injuries after being attacked by Connor, and is having to cope with the significant impact of these daily.
“The sentence given today reflects the seriousness of the crime, and I hope that it provides all of those involved, and affected by this act of violence, with a degree of closure to help them move on with their lives.”
Doughton will not be eligible for parole for at least 15 years and will also be on licence for the rest of his life. He was also jailed for two years for wounding Mr Williams, which will run concurrently with his sentence for murder.
An order banning the identification of Doughton was lifted by the court after it was challenged by the media.
Are Doughton’s mum and dad brother and sister?
What an odd question, meaningless.
This little monster should spend the rest of his life locked up.
Life really should mean Life. But a at minimum it should mean 30 years.
15 years for murder? That’s hardly a punishment. A 99 year life sentence is more fitting. I propose a systematic doubling of all prison sentences, ending early release, and quadrupling sentences for extreme crime. As a minimum this boy should serve a 60 year sentence.