A TEEN boy who stabbed a Jaguar Land Rover worker to death outside an Asda has been jailed.
Ian Kirwan, 53, was knifed in the heart in Redditch, Worcestershire, after confronting a gang of youths for messing about in a toilet.
A 15-year-old boy – then aged 14 – who accepted inflicting the fatal blow was today jailed for murder.
Justice Fraser was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 14 years detention.
Three other youths – two aged 14 and one aged 16 – were previously cleared of murder and manslaughter but found guilty of violent disorder.
A fifth boy, aged 16, was acquitted of murder, manslaughter and violent disorder.
In a victim impact statement, Ian's wife Lynsey told how she is "forcing myself to keep going each day".
She said: "Myself, my friends and family can't face going to Asda and B&Q. Even when an advert comes on the television it makes me shudder.
"The decision made by those on March 8 didn't just take my husband from me, it also took my life, my plans for the future and had an impact on all my choices I make in life.
"Normally when a person dies they are surrounded by their friends and their family.
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"Because of the tragic circumstances of Ian's death he died alone surrounded by strangers who were kind enough to help him. Nobody should have to die like that.
"I would love to have one more hug with Ian. When he left on the evening of March 8 we said 'goodbye and love you'. But I didn't hug him and I can't explain how much I wished I had.
"I feel scared of the future. I can't think about it. Ian was my rock, my soulmate, my husband. I will never recover from his death. Ian didn't deserve to die. He still had so much to live for."
Worcester Crown Court heard how the horror unfolded outside the supermarket on March 8.
Ian's wife, who had been with the software engineer for 20 years, said he had popped out to B&Q and then Asda to buy some wine and snacks for that night.
Tragically, his final words were telling his family he loved them.
Once at the store, Ian had asked a group of lads why they were "messing about in the toilet".
He was then stabbed through the heart after a scuffle broke out.
Although the 14-year-old dealt the fatal blow, his feral pals were "acting together" by "assisting or encouraging" the youngster.
One of them had yelled "leg it, train" as they ran past horrified shoppers to escape.
Prosecutor Benjamin Aina KC said: "They all intended that Mr Kirwan should be caused at least really serious harm with the knife that was used.
"Therefore the prosecution say in law all five boys were jointly responsible for Mr Kirwan's death."
As Ian lay dying on the ground, his wife told how she had a "feeling" that something wasn't right.
She attempted to call her husband every 15 minutes until the police arrived and told her Ian had been killed.
The following day, the 14-year-old's mum took him to the police station after he admitted killing Ian.
She had taken him out of school after growing suspicious he was involved in the brutal murder.
Once at the police station, the teen claimed he had aimed a punch at the software engineer but forgot he was holding the knife.
Police searching his home found a Nike jacket with Ian's blood on it.
All five youths, who cannot be named due to their age, denied murder, manslaughter and violent disorder.
A 15-year-old pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article in public while the 14-year-old denied the same offence.
Ian's wife paid a heartbreaking tribute to her "wonderful" husband who was "full of love, kindness and generosity" following the verdict.
She said: "The decisions made by the youths on March 8, 2022, didn't just take my husband from me but it also took my life, my plans for the future and has an impact on all my choices I make in life.
"Normally when a person dies, they are surrounded by loved ones and family but because of the tragic circumstances of Ian's death, he died alone surrounded by strangers who were kind enough to help him. Nobody should ever have to die like that.
"I would love to have one more hug with him. When he left on the evening of [that day] we said goodbye and 'love you' to each other but I didn't hug him and I can't explain how much I wish I had.
"I feel scared of the future. I cannot think about it as my life moving forward is alone.
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"Ian was my rock, my soul mate, my husband. I will never recover from his death. Ian didn't deserve to die, he still had so much to live for."
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