Great Yarmouth: Teenager Found Guilty Of Manslaughter

3rd February 2012, 15:32

An 18-year-old girl who killed her neighbour with a single stab wound to the chest after an argument in the street in Great Yarmouth has today been convicted of manslaughter.

At around 7:50pm on Sunday 19th of June 2011, Katy Bown from Stanley Terrace, had been trying to get her two year old to fall asleep, when 21-year-old Shane Boulton began riding his trials style motorcycle in the adjacent road and alleyways.  Bown asked Mr Boulton to make less noise, which led to an argument with Mr Boulton's partner and which Mr Boulton then joined in with. Another neighbour tried to separate the group and eventually Bown went back into her home. After the situation appeared to have calmed down, Bown took a knife from her home address and stabbed Shane in the heart as he stood in the street.

Shane died a short while after he was taken to the James Paget Hospital for treatment.

DCI Jes Fry, from the Joint Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team, commented on the conviction saying: "This is a tragic incident which has destroyed the lives of two young people and their families.  The escalation into violence was not necessary and could have so easily been avoided."

Shane's family released the following statement: 

"It has been a difficult few months for me and my family and nothing can bring back my son Shane, we are disappointed with the result but we understand that there were factors in the case that culminated in this result.

I know that other people were involved in the incident but ultimately she stabbed him and for that she must serve whatever punishment is given. Although we will never be happy with the sentence because we have lost our loved one, he has lost his life and she still has hers.

We, as a family, have lost our son and brother and would like now to have the opportunity to grieve in peace.

Shane was a loving son, a wonderful brother and a fantastic dad, he will be sadly missed."

Katy Bown is due to be sentenced in two weeks.