Three from Worcestershire family jailed over death

Joe, Paul and Tracy Carpenter were sentenced at Worcester Crown Court

Three members of a family have been jailed after the killing of a teenager who was stabbed in a fight.

Joe Carpenter, 19, was jailed for life after the death of Shane Price, 19, of Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire, at Hartlebury Common in February 2009.

Carpenter will serve a minimum of 14 years for murder. His parents, Paul and Tracy, got 11 years for manslaughter.

The two families arranged for the teenagers to settle a score on Hartlebury Common, the court heard.

'Utterly needless'

Joe Carpenter, from Railway Corner, Kidderminster, had admitted the murder of Mr Price and wounding with intent of Mr Price's mother, Eileen.

Paul Carpenter, 55, and Tracy Carpenter, 46, of Park Crescent, Stourport, were charged with murder, but found guilty of manslaughter at Worcester Crown Court.

Paul Carpenter was also convicted of wounding with intent of Frederick Price senior, the father of Mr Price.

Tracy Carpenter was also found guilty of wounding with intent of Eileen Price.

Shane Price was pronounced dead at the scene

The truth over the reasons for the fight may never be known, the court heard.

Judge Alastair McCreath said Shane Price's death was "utterly needless".

Speaking to Paul and Tracy Carpenter, he said: "If they had acted as parents should, it's very likely that Shane Price would still be alive and their son wouldn't be charged with murder."

The court previously heard the Price family thought it would be a fair fight between Shane and Joe Carpenter, but the latter arrived wielding a knife and Paul Carpenter had a machete.

Shane Price also had a baton, but both of his parents were not armed, the court was told.

A family statement from Eileen Price, released by police, said it "all seems like a terrible nightmare".

'Probably never know'

It said: "If there is one lesson to be learned from this tragedy, I would say 'for God's sake please don't carry or use knives'.

"The resulting misery and heartache can never justify it.

"One of the most difficult things for all of us to bear is that we will probably never know what this was really all about.

"But whatever it was it was nothing worth killing for... or being killed for."

She also thanked her family and everybody involved in the case.

Following sentencing Det Ch Insp Paul Williamson, who led the investigation, said: "This case highlights the devastation that knife crime can cause.

"The loss of a loved one in any circumstances is heartbreaking, and even more so when they are the victim of a senseless and appalling murder."