A dad has been jailed for 30 years after a vicious machete attack on a man he blamed for the death of his son.
Samson Price was given the sentence today at Chester Crown Court after the 48-year-old was found guilty of attempted murder following a six-day trial.
Price tried to kill Patrick Brown, 20, in an "eye-for-an-eye" attack as he blamed him for the death of his son.
He confronted Mr Brown outside a gym and onlookers could only watch horrified as he stabbed him "between 15 and 20 times" in the "pre-planned" attack in Northwich, Cheshire - it came almost a year after the death of Price's son, Samson Price Jr, 18.
Price's son had drowned in a lake in Wigan, in October 2020, when he had been out with Mr Brown and two others camping.
During the trial at the time, the jury heard how they had taken LSD before Samson Jr began acting strangely and went missing. He was later found drowned.
Price was left "very angry" that the police didn't prosecute Brown, who was 19 at the time, and two others for murder after they were arrested.
The coroner since ruled the young man's death an open verdict.
But Price was so unhappy with the outcome that he took the law into his own hands in the "carefully planned attack".
The dad had stalked Mr Brown with a tracker he installed on his car for weeks before the attack outside the PureGym.
Price arrived at the gym, armed, and waited outside, wearing a mask to stop Mr Brown recognising him before he followed him as he left the premise and attacked him from behind.
Mr Brown was "millimetres from bleeding to death" but was saved by "sheer luck" after gym-goers called the emergency services.
Price went into hiding for ten days following the attack before he was eventually located, Cheshire Police said.
Following the sentencing Detective Constable John Corrigan, formally of Northwich CID, who led the investigation said: “This was an absolutely terrifying ordeal for the victim, and I welcome the sentence that has been handed down today.
“While I have sympathy for Price following the death of his son, there is no excuse for the actions he took on the night of the attack.
“Price attacked the victim from behind, leaving him totally defenceless, and specifically hit his leg to demobilise him.
“The attack lasted just 23 seconds, but during that time we estimate that the victim was stabbed between 15 and 20 times – including multiple wounds his head, arms, and right leg.
“I have no doubt that had it not been for the assistance provided to the victim by the public, along with the swift response of officers and paramedics, the outcome of this case could have been very different.”
Chief Inspector Leeroy Moss, head of Northwich Local Policing Unit, added: “Incidents of this nature are extremely rare in the Northwich area, however I understand that this attack caused shockwaves in the local community.
“I would like to reassure residents that we are committed to doing all we can to tackle knife crime.
“We will respond robustly to any knife related incidents and do all we can to ensure that anyone found to be carrying a knife or committing a knife related offence is brought to justice.
“Members of the public also have a vital role to play in our fight against knife crime by giving us information about crimes involving knives and those who carry weapons.”
