Knife appeal as murderer jailed

Andrew Ross was stabbed to death as he walked home

The mother of a teenager has appealed to other youngsters not to carry knives as her son's killer begins a life sentence.

Peter John Matthews, 18, from Abergele, Conwy, had denied murdering Andrew Ross, 19, from Rhyl.

But he was jailed for life after a jury at Mold Crown Court found him guilty.

Afterwards, the victim's mother Fiona Ross said "knives take lives" and she wanted no-one else to suffer like her family had.

Mr Ross and his friend Mr Brindley had been walking home together after a night out when they met Matthews in July.

Matthews, who had claimed he had acted in self-defence, was cleared of attempting to murder Mr Brindley.

Judge John Rogers QC ruled he should serve at least 17 years before he is considered for release.

You willingly went in to combat with them and took out the knife and stabbed Andrew Ross deliberately Judge John Rogers

The jury had heard how Andrew Ross, from Rhyl, collapsed and died at the scene as he made his way home in the early hours of 3 July this year.

Mr Ross was stabbed with a knife six times by Matthews. One blow fractured a bone, the court heard.

His friend Mr Brindley, said to be like a brother to him, went to his aid.

The trial heard Matthews then turned on him and stabbed him four times.

Previous convictions

Matthews was also convicted of wounding Mr Brindley with intent. He was cleared of an attempted murder charge

"You drank a substantial amount and you smoked cannabis. Two other young men spent the evening doing the same," the judge told Matthews, sentencing him.

"They were the same age as you. When you met, bearing in mind the drink and the cannabis that the three of you had taken, it was not surprising that an argument flared up between you.

"The difference between you and the other two was that you were armed, I am quite satisfied so to be sure, with a screwdriver and with a knife.

"You willingly went in to combat with them and took out the knife and stabbed Andrew Ross deliberately, three times causing deep fatal wounds to the chest," he added.

I would just like to say to all the kids out there who are thinking of carrying knives - don't Fiona Ross

Matthews had denied the charges and had claimed that he had come under attack, and acted in self-defence when he lashed out with a screwdriver.

After the jury returned their verdict, it was revealed Matthews had previous convictions for five offences including affray, common assault and damage.

As she left the course, Fiona Ross, from Rhyl, said she and her husband Mike, and their other son Rhodri, were pleased with the life sentence.

"But I would just like to say to all the kids out there who are thinking of carrying knives - don't," said Mrs Ross.

"Knives take lives and this case illustrates that. It is horrendous what can happen."

Mrs Ross said she was backing an anti-knife campaign recently launched by North Wales Police.

"I don't want any other parents to go through what we have been through," she said.