Colchester: Killer Jailed For Jay Murder

1 May 2014, 17:38 | Updated: 1 May 2014, 19:41

A teenager has been jailed for life with a minimum of 17 years after being found guilty of the murder of another teenager at a party advertised on Facebook.

17-year-old Jay Whiston from Clacton (pictured), was stabbed at the party in Marlow Way, Colchester, on the night of September 8th 2012, and died in hospital shortly afterwards.

Edward Redman, 18, denied murder but was found guilty earlier this month at Chelmsford Crown Court. He returned to the court where he was told he will serve at least 17 years behind bars, a spokeswoman for the court confirmed.

He had been warned to prepare for a "substantial" prison sentence by Judge Charles Gratwicke after being found guilty of what he described as a "vicious, cold blooded stabbing".

The court heard Redman carried out the ''unprovoked'' attack after demanding Mr Whiston's friend hand over his drink.

The case was described during the 13-week trial by prosecutor Mark Milliken-Smith QC as a "desperate example of the catastrophe and heartbreak" brought about by the use of knives.

His father Gary Redman, 51, and brother John Redman, 19, were both found guilty of perverting the course of justice and were each jailed for two years, the court official said.

Shannon Fenlon, 19, from Jameson Road, Clacton, was sentenced to nine months after being convicted of the same offence.