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Cigarette row killer Kai Steele given 18 years | Cigarette row killer Kai Steele given 18 years |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A teenager who stabbed a man to death during an argument sparked by a row over a cigarette has been detained for at least 18 years. | A teenager who stabbed a man to death during an argument sparked by a row over a cigarette has been detained for at least 18 years. |
Kai Steele, 18, from Charlton, murdered 26-year-old Alex Scott in an alleyway in south-east London last August. | Kai Steele, 18, from Charlton, murdered 26-year-old Alex Scott in an alleyway in south-east London last August. |
The Old Bailey heard Mr Scott was stabbed twice in the chest after he threw the first punch during the fight. | The Old Bailey heard Mr Scott was stabbed twice in the chest after he threw the first punch during the fight. |
The judge said it was another example of the "unjustified" consequences of teenagers carrying knives. | The judge said it was another example of the "unjustified" consequences of teenagers carrying knives. |
Steele, who was 17 at the time of the murder, was detained indefinitely at Her Majesty's pleasure and has been sent to a young offenders institution. | Steele, who was 17 at the time of the murder, was detained indefinitely at Her Majesty's pleasure and has been sent to a young offenders institution. |
The court heard Mr Scott was with friends outside an off-licence in Eltham Road when a group which included Steele approached them and a fight ensued. | The court heard Mr Scott was with friends outside an off-licence in Eltham Road when a group which included Steele approached them and a fight ensued. |
Twenty seconds after Mr Scott threw the first punch, Steele launched forward and stabbed him twice; once in the aorta and again in the heart. | Twenty seconds after Mr Scott threw the first punch, Steele launched forward and stabbed him twice; once in the aorta and again in the heart. |
Judge Timothy Pontius said: "This is yet another example of an utterly needless and unjustified waste of a human life resulting from a senseless decision by a teenage boy to put a knife in his pocket before leaving home. | Judge Timothy Pontius said: "This is yet another example of an utterly needless and unjustified waste of a human life resulting from a senseless decision by a teenage boy to put a knife in his pocket before leaving home. |
"As is so often the case, that knife was not taken out with any intention in the defendant's mind to use it to cause anyone serious injury, still less to kill. | "As is so often the case, that knife was not taken out with any intention in the defendant's mind to use it to cause anyone serious injury, still less to kill. |
"This murder was neither planned nor premeditated but arose, as so often the case in the context of street violence, in a matter of moments. | "This murder was neither planned nor premeditated but arose, as so often the case in the context of street violence, in a matter of moments. |
"That fact makes it all the more tragic that a human life was lost simply because a knife was needlessly carried, and so what would have begun and ended with the trading of a few punches instead led to a murder." | "That fact makes it all the more tragic that a human life was lost simply because a knife was needlessly carried, and so what would have begun and ended with the trading of a few punches instead led to a murder." |
An impact statement from Mr Scott's mother, Rachel Van Dyke, said: "His death was totally unnecessary and I know nothing is ever going to bring Alex back. | An impact statement from Mr Scott's mother, Rachel Van Dyke, said: "His death was totally unnecessary and I know nothing is ever going to bring Alex back. |
"The only thing I can hope for now is the person responsible gets their just desserts." | "The only thing I can hope for now is the person responsible gets their just desserts." |
Steele has a series of past convictions for violent crimes, including muggings, dating back to when he was 12 or 13 years old. | Steele has a series of past convictions for violent crimes, including muggings, dating back to when he was 12 or 13 years old. |
His co-defendant Dillon Beckford, 18, of Lee High Road, was acquitted of murder last week on the direction of Judge Pontius. | His co-defendant Dillon Beckford, 18, of Lee High Road, was acquitted of murder last week on the direction of Judge Pontius. |
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