Stab youth guilty of manslaughter

Christopher Faulkner was stabbed during a scuffle over cannabis

A 16-year-old youth has been cleared of murdering a man in a Hertfordshire park but has been convicted of manslaughter.

The youth on trial at St Albans Crown Court pleaded not guilty to the murder of Chris Faulkner.

The 20-year-old was found stabbed in the chest in King George V playing fields in Stevenage in April 2008.

The jury acquitted the teenager of murder but guilty of manslaughter. Judge Michael Baker QC adjourned sentencing until next month.

He said the teenager would also be sentenced for conspiracy to rob Mr Faulkner.

Sahan Yeter, 18, of Jessop Road in Stevenage, also on trial, was last week acquitted of the murder as Judge Baker ruled there was not enough evidence for a jury to convict him.

Yeter admitted conspiracy to rob Mr Faulkner of cannabis and will also be sentenced in December.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, and Yeter had gone to the park to meet Mr Faulkner - described as a low level cannabis dealer.

When they tried to take the drugs without paying, a scuffle broke out in which Mr Faulker was stabbed and died in hospital from the wound.

The 16-year-old told the jury he did lash out at him with a knife but did not intend to kill him.

Under cross examination, the teenager said: "I went to the park to get some cannabis. I was going to rob it by taking it off him (Mr Faulkner) and leaving without paying."