Teenager jailed for Herts fatal stabbing

A teenager has been jailed for 10 years for the manslaughter of a partially blind man who he killed in a "cowardly" attack, police said.

Jordan Flattery, 19, killed Graham Snowden after the pair got into a minor scuffle at a house in Milestone Road, Hertfordshire, in the early hours of January 8.

A spokeswoman for Hertfordshire Police said Mr Snowden, a 36-year-old father of two, died after Flattery stabbed him twice - dealing a fatal blow to his chest.

Croydon Crown Court heard that Mr Snowden, who suffered from mobility issues after being in a car crash a few years ago, tried to get up from a sofa before Flattery pushed him down twice, the force spokeswoman said.

A confrontation took place between them and they were asked to leave the house.

As they were leaving an altercation took place in the hallway where Flattery produced a knife and stabbed Mr Snowden twice, once through his arm as he defended himself and once to his chest.

Flattery, of West Close in Hitchin, Herts, was arrested on January 10 and charged with the killing.

He denied the manslaughter of Mr Snowden, of Station Road in Lower Stondon, but following a trial was convicted by a jury on July 13.

Detective Inspector Neil Langford, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: "Firstly, our thoughts remain with the family of Graham Snowden who have shown incredible bravery throughout this process.

"Our thoughts remain with them through what continues to be an extremely difficult time for them.

"The actions of Jordan Flattery on January 8th were cowardly - he took a man's life and then fled from the scene.

"He deliberately carried a knife on him prior to this incident and this should act as a warning to those who commit such an offence, that you will be caught and dealt with.

"The sentence passed on him today cannot bring Graham back but I hope it offers some closure to his family, who continue to live with the legacy the actions of Flattery have left behind from that night."

After the sentencing, Mr Snowden's family paid tribute to the "kind and dedicated family man" who leaves behind two daughters - Ilise 14, and Alana, 8.

They said in a statement released through Hertfordshire Police: "Our world ended in the early hours of January 8th this year when our beloved Graham had his life cruelly taken from him.

"Today the court has sentenced Jordan Flattery to ten years in custody after he was found guilty of the manslaughter of Graham, but it is us, Graham's family, who continue to serve a life sentence, as no sentence passed today can ever bring him back."

They described Mr Snowden as a "fighter", who overcame the injuries he sustained in the car crash and who fought for an hour to stay alive after the attack by Flattery.

They added: "Graham was a kind and dedicated family man, he would do anything for anyone, even though sometimes it could be a struggle, he never complained about anything and always saw the bright side of life.

"We miss him more with each day that passes and although a sentence has been passed today we will live with the legacy of the actions of Jordan Flattery, and will never have an answer as to why Graham had his life so cruelly taken from him."

PA