Man sentenced after manslaughter of Tamworth man, Daniel Wyatt

A LEICESTER man has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for the manslaughter of his friend, following a trial at Stafford Crown Court.

Daniel Alston was found guilty today, February 23, following a 2 week trial, of the manslaughter of Daniel Wyatt from Tamworth.

The court heard that police and an ambulance were called to Kerria in Tamworth at 11pm on 8 September 2017 after a witness reported a man lying injured on the pavement.

The man, Daniel Wyatt, aged 30, had been stabbed in the stomach and back nine times. The following day, police arrested Daniel Alston for attempted murder, after one of Alston’s relatives called to say he was responsible.

Mr Wyatt was admitted to critical care and later died from his injuries. On September 10 Alston was arrested for the murder of Daniel Wyatt.

Mr Wyatt and Alston had been friends and had worked together briefly at a warehouse.

The court was told that both Mr Wyatt and Alston and another friend had gone for drinks in Tamworth at the Phoenix and Penny Black pubs. After drinking together they went back to Mr Wyatt’s flat. They began play fighting which escalated into serious violence.

Alston said he had been defending himself from Mr Wyatt. He said he had taken a small kitchen knife from the flat as Mr Wyatt had burst into the room, swinging at him with a plank of wood.

He admitted stabbing Mr Wyatt with a plank of wood found within the flat. Alston stated that he had taken the knife with him following the incident and disposed of it. Following a search, police recovered what was believed to be the knife used in the incident from an area near to an underpass. Mr Wyatt’s flat keys were also recovered in an area of grassland nearby.

Detective Inspector Victoria Downing, of Staffordshire Police, said: “This is a tragic case where a man has lost his life. Daniel Wyatt’s injuries were severe and, as the prosecution stated, they were not consistent with self-defence. We’re pleased that Daniel Alston has been found guilty, but our thoughts are with Mr Wyatt’s family and friends at this difficult time.”