Teenage boys, 15 and 17, guilty of beating dad-of-two with baseball bat and stabbing him to death on sister’s doorstep
TWO teenage boys, aged 15 and 17, have been found guilty of beating a dad-of-two with a baseball bat and stabbing him to death on his sister's doorstep.
Chris Hewett, 31, who had a five-month-old baby, was taken to Lister Hospital in Stevenage, Herts, but was pronounced dead shortly after arriving in A&E.
A 17-year-old youth has today been found guilty of murdering Mr Hewett, who died after being stabbed in the street on February 12 this year.
He had been attacked in Meadow Way, suffering stab wounds to the chest.
Another boy, 15, was cleared by a jury of his murder in Stevenage, but was instead convicted of his manslaughter.
The youths, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had both denied murdering Mr Hewett.
A third teenager, Ryan Lee, 19, of Wildwood Lane, Stevenage, was convicted by the jury at Luton Crown Court of assisting offenders after he arranged for the two youths to travel to Wakefield in West Yorkshire after the killing.
He will be sentenced alongside them in August.
The verdicts came today after a two-week trial at the court.
The jury heard how, on the evening of February 12 this year, Chris Hewett, a young dad who lived in Stevenage, was making his way to his sister’s house with his cousin Terry Wales, when they passed a group of four young people shortly after 9pm.
HOLDING A BASEBALL BAT
Prosecutor Paul Cavin QC said words were exchanged, with one accusing the victim of sending his mum “dodgy messages.”
Mr Calvin said that Mr Hewett replied that he didn’t know what they were talking about and walked on with his cousin.
“As they approached the front door of [his sister's home], the group was behind them," the prosecutor added.
He said the 15-year-old was holding a baseball bat and delivered a blow to Terry Wales’ elbow.
Mr Hewett received a blow from the bat and was grappling with the 15-year-old, when the 17-year-old came from behind and stabbed him several times, the court was told.
Mr Hewett’s sister Robyn opened her front door to find him being cradled in the arms of his cousin on the doorstep.
Mr Wales helped his cousin into the house.
But Mr Hewett subsequently died from his injuries in hospital.
The blood was coming through my fingers. He died in my arms.
Terry Wales
He told the jury: “I was holding Chris in my arms. I said to Robyn to ring an ambulance.
"There was blood everywhere. I put as much pressure as I could on his ribs.
"The blood was coming through my fingers. He died in my arms.”
The two teenagers were arrested in a car two days later, on February 14, in Cambridgeshire having first fled to Wakefield.
The court heard that the 17-year-old had admitted stabbing Mr Hewett, and saying that he had done so to help the younger boy escape, and now regretted his actions.
After the jury had given its verdicts, trial judge John Kay QC told Lewis Powell QC, who defended the 17-year-old: “There is only one sentence for your client.”
The judge said that the third defendant, Ryan Lee, who two weeks ago became a father for the first time, “needs to prepare himself” for a prison sentence.
A beloved father, brother and son has died.
Det Insp Iain MacPherson
Sentencing of the 15 and 17-year-olds will take place after reports have been prepared on the younger boy by the Youth Offending Team.
All three are due to be sentenced at St Albans Crown Court on Friday August 27.
After the verdicts were given, Det Insp Iain MacPherson, from the Beds, Cambs and Hertfs Major Crime Unit, said: “Our thoughts remain very much with Christopher’s family and friends at this time and we thank them for their support and dignity during the investigation and trial.
“We would also like to thank those members of the public who in the spirit of community and justice gave evidence in this difficult case.
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“Christopher Hewett’s murder sadly highlights the impact that those who carry knives have on their own lives, the lives cut tragically short and the families of victims and perpetrators alike.
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“I urge anyone with influence over those who carry knives, in particular the families and friends of young people, to make them aware of the futility and the terrible consequences of doing so.
“A beloved father, brother and son has died and two boys are facing significant jail sentences because of it."
