The best friend of a dad-of-two who was stabbed to death in West Derby shouted “he’s got two children” as he watched a knife being plunged into his heart.
Liam Fletcher saw the moment Paul Stenson was fatally stabbed outside a home on Princess Drive on December 18 last year. Adam Fletcher, of no relation to Liam Fletcher, allegedly murdered Mr Stenson only hours after the two met at a party there.
After an argument between them turned into a scuffle and they were asked to go outside, Adam Fletcher is said to have grabbed a kitchen knife from inside the home before hiding it behind his back, pulling Mr Stenson towards him and plunging it into his side. Prosecutors say that lone knife wound inflicted “catastrophic” damage, going straight through 30-year-old Mr Stenson’s heart and causing him to bleed to death within an hour.
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They also say Fletcher, 28, tried to dodge justice for days after the killing with the help of his then girlfriend, Susie Lee, and friends, Demi Walsh and Nathan Finnegan. Fletcher stands accused of murder and of possessing a bladed article. Lee, Walsh and Finnegan are all accused of assisting an offender, while Lee also faces an additional charge of attempted witness intimidation.
The four deny all the charges and are currently on trial at Liverpool Crown Court. Richard Pratt, QC, prosecuting, told jurors yesterday that neither Mr Stenson nor Fletcher were invited to the 21st birthday party where the incident took place and were instead both invited by separate sets of friends who wanted to see them.
While the party initially had a good atmosphere, things soured after Mr Stenson’s partner, Samantha Rosser, noticed Adam Fletcher behaving in what she described as a “flirtatious” way towards her. After telling her partner, he and Fletcher initially appeared to discuss the issue and “hug it out”, but after Ms Rosser left a scuffle broke out.
Liam Fletcher, Paul Stenson’s best friend, gave evidence today about what happened during that fight and the moment Mr Stenson was stabbed. Liam Fletcher told police Mr Stenson went to punch Adam Fletcher a number of times, other people tried to intervene and the two were kicked out the house.
He said he then heard Adam Fletcher say “get outside”, to which Mr Stenson apparently replied “sound”. The two then went outside, with Mr Fletcher following them to the driveway. He said he believed they were just going to continue to fight in the way they had in the house, just using their fists, but that he saw Adam Fletcher reach behind him and take a knife from somewhere in his trousers, pull Mr Stenson close to him using his free arm and stab him.
Voices can be heard on CCTV that captured part of the incident and, responding to a question from Mr Pratt about what he may have shouted, Mr Fletcher said “I do not know whether I screamed 'f****** knives’ but I do think I screamed ‘he has got two kids’.” He added: “At first Paul just put his hand on his chest. I can recall Paul saying ‘f****** knives’ as if he was saying like ‘you’re using a knife are you’.”
He said Adam Fletcher then ran in the direction of the Jumbo takeaway on Princess Drive and he didn’t see where he went afterwards. Mr Fletcher said: “By that point I had looked and Paul had started to fall then.” Mr Pratt asked: “Did he fall to the ground?” Mr Fletcher replied: “He didn’t fall to the ground because I had hold of him but I fell with him.”
A number of family members in the public gallery cried during Liam Fletcher’s evidence. He also stated that Mr Stenson was angry in the first phase of the argument inside the house. Mr Fletcher said he and others took steps to separate the two inside the house, particularly as it was the home of someone they didn’t know. However, he said there was little indication of what would later happen outside.
Responding to a question from Peter Finnegan, defending, about whether he could be sure about parts of what he saw, Mr Fletcher said: “I know who killed my friend. I can remember that as clear as day. That will stay with me forever. I will take that to the grave with me.” The court heard yesterday that Adam Fletcher admits stabbing Mr Stenson but says he acted in self defence.
Prosecutors alleged that in the days after the attack Susie Lee, Demi Walsh and Nathan Finnegan all took steps to help him evade justice.
Adam Fletcher, Fletcher, 28, of Palace Road, denies murder and possession of a bladed article. Finnegan, 30, of Rosalind Way, and Walsh, 28, of Redbourn Street, both deny assisting an offender. Lee, 21, of New Road, denies assisting an offender and intimidating a witness.
Proceeding
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