Youth jailed for murdering friend

A teenager who stabbed his friend through the heart with a kitchen knife has been jailed for life.

Christopher Ball, 18, was at his home in Broad Oak Way, Stevenage, when he stabbed David Paine, of Leaves Spring, Stevenage, in January 2006.

St Albans Crown Court heard the pair had rowed earlier in the night and clashed again at Ball's house when he attacked 17-year-old Mr Paine.

Ball was convicted of murder last week. He must serve at least 10 years.

Defence barrister Adrian Amer said Ball was "extremely remorseful".

Cannabis and cocaine

He said: "He could not believe he had killed his friend. It will be on his mind and on his conscience for the rest of his life."

Judge Findlay Baker QC told him: "You stabbed your friend David Paine to death.

"You did so after a long night in which you drank a lot of alcohol and had consumed strong cannabis and some cocaine."

The judge described David's death as a "tragedy" and expressed his "sincere condolences to his family".

In a statement Mr Paine's family paid tribute to the keen cyclist, saying he "lived for his bike".

They added: "David was a son to be proud of who wished to join the army and was filling in his entry form, but never got the chance to send it off."