Jack Howes’ killers jailed for 34 years between them after roofer suffered ‘truly appalling’ knife wound

The knife-wielding killer who murdered roofer Jack Howes in a brutal attack in a Grimsby street will spend a minimum of 22 years behind bars after being jailed for life. Mr Howes, 29, was said to have been stabbed during an argument that turned into a violent confrontation. He died after suffering two catastrophic knife wound injuries, a court heard.

Kian Feve, 22, of Southfield Road, Scunthorpe, denied murdering Mr Howes on March 20 last year but he was convicted unanimously by a jury on December 7 after a trial at Hull Crown Court.[1][2] A total of 288 days will be deducted from the time that he actually spends in prison because of his days in custody on remand. Feve's accomplice, Robert Wattam, 24, of School Houses, Broughton, also denied murder and he was cleared of that charge but he was convicted unanimously of manslaughter.

He was jailed for 12 years for the manslaughter, with a consecutive three years for drugs offences, making 15 years in all. Kian Feve and Wattam both pleaded guilty to being concerned in supplying heroin and cocaine between March 14 and 21 as well as possessing cocaine with intent to supply on March 20. Kian Feve, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and red tie, and Wattam, wearing a white polo shirt and a pendant, both showed no emotion as they walked out of the secure dock to be taken down to the cells.

There were shouts of "Love you, Kian" and "Keep your head up, Kian" from the public gallery.

Both men nodded to their supporters in the public gallery. Feve's stepfather, Darren Feve, 55, of Southfield Road, Scunthorpe, denied perverting the course of justice on March 23 last year by telling the police that his stepson was at the family home at the time of the incident involving Mr Howes but he was convicted on a majority verdict of 11 to one. Darren Feve, wearing a blue jumper and jeans, was given a one-year suspended prison sentence and 200 hours' unpaid work.

He showed no emotion but there were claps from his supporters in the public gallery. Two jurors who sat on the trial returned to court for the sentencing. Kian Feve had convictions for five previous offences, including possessing heroin and Ecstasy with intent to supply and attempting to possess cocaine with intent to supply.

He was in breach of a one-year suspended prison sentence imposed on November 12, 2022. Wattam had convictions for 10 previous offences, including five of driving over the drugs limit, possessing drugs and, most recently in May last year, driving while disqualified. Darren Feve had no previous convictions but had cautions in 2006 for assault causing actual bodily harm and 2007 for criminal damage.

Nicholas De La Poer KC, mitigating, said that it was a "truly appalling fatal wound" and it could have been caused by Mr Howes turning away once he had been stabbed but it was "very, very grave violence". Kian Feve had a caution for assault causing actual bodily harm and drugs convictions. "When it comes to whether or not he is a violent person, he is not," said Mr De La Poer.

Kian Feve had written a note for the court in which he made a "sincere expression of his regret" for the murder. "His biggest regret is that he entangled his father in this," said Mr De La Poer. Feve recognised the efforts that he his father had made to steer him away from trouble in the past. "That is his single biggest concern," said Mr De La Poer.

"He knows that he is going to have a very long time to spend within the prison environment." He was making efforts to better himself in custody through taking qualifications. Richard Wright KC, representing Wattam, said that the defendant knew that Kian Feve had a knife but this was different from encouraging him to use it. Wattam had light convictions and most were for driving over the drugs limit.

"This offence is very much an uptick in seriousness and very much out of character for him," said Mr Wright. Wattam would, because of his behaviour, miss out on seeing his young son. "That's a matter of great regret to him," said Mr Wright. "There is another side to him."

Ian Brook, representing Darren Feve, said that the defendant was hard-working and stepped up when his relationship with his wife ended. He tried to help over Kian Feve's drugs problem by diverting him from that and helping him until his stepson was 18. "Unfortunately, it has all come to this," said Mr Brook.

The alibi that Darren Feve gave was not really an alibi because his stepson could have got back to Grimsby anyway. Darren Feve fulfilled his promise to hand his stepson in to Grimsby police before midnight. Darren Feve had lost his job in the building trade because of the conviction. "His employment has gone since he was convicted," said Mr Brook. "That employment terminated but he has other employment offers."

The prosecution claimed during the trial that Kian Feve and Wattam were dealers in heroin and crack cocaine and that Mr Howes agreed late on March 19 to meet them in Grimsby to buy drugs. An argument broke out and Mr Howes ran off but he was said to have slipped before being attacked by Feve and Wattam in the early hours of March 20. He was kicked as he lay on the ground and he was stabbed twice in the chest and abdomen, causing "catastrophic" injuries, it was claimed.

Mr Howes managed to flee from the scene but he collapsed a short distance away. An ambulance was called. A local resident said that it was "like something out of a horror movie".

Mr Howes died in hospital at 2.30am on March 20.

The prosecution claimed that Mr Howes was attacked because he "disrespected" two dealers and they brutally "taught him a lesson".

References

1. ^ Scunthorpe, (www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk)
2. ^ Hull Crown Court. (www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk)