It was only a week before Christmas when Paul Stenson went to a house party with his friends.
The dad-of-two's family could not have imagined that he would never come home after he was knifed in the heart by a stranger and died aged 30.
A trial at Liverpool Crown Court earlier this year heard that neither the father nor his killer Adam Fletcher were invited to the 21st birthday party on Princess Drive in West Derby on December 18 2021, instead being brought along by separate sets of friends. They were in "good spirits", but trouble erupted after Mr Stenson’s girlfriend, Samantha Rosser, went into the garden for a cigarette.
READ MORE: Faces of 30 people police want to speak to immediately
As she smoked, Fletcher approached her and began speaking to her in a “flirtatious” way. She was left feeling uncomfortable and her partner intervened.
A scuffle broke out and both men were asked to leave. Fletcher then grabbed a kitchen knife from a block in the kitchen, went outside and stabbed Mr Stenson in the back.
Mr Stenson, who hours earlier had been shopping for Christmas presents with his partner of 15 years and their two children, was left dying in the street. Fletcher, of Palace Road, meanwhile fled in a taxi and spent days attempting to evade justice with the help of those close to him.
The 28-year-old claimed to have acted in self-defence, but was found guilty of murder by a jury. He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years in September.
Nathan Finnegan - Fletcher’s best friend, also aged 28 - and 30-year-old Demi Walsh, the mum of his child, were found guilty of assisting an offender. Jurors could not reach a verdict on the same charge against his then girlfriend Susie Lee, but they cleared her of a charge of attempted witness intimidation.
A tearful Walsh, of Redbourn Street, was locked up for 18 months. Finnegan, of Rosalind Way, was handed 14 months.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
READ NEXT:
Faces of 30 people police want to speak to immediately
Anfield redevelopment moves forward as club confirm new approach
UK's most wanted list after Liverpool fugitive arrested in Marbella
