Man jailed for stabbing burglar to death in Halewood
Karl Townsend's been handed 19 years behind bars for manslaughter
Last updated 8th Aug 2022
A man's been jailed for stabbing a burglar to death at his home in Halewood.
Karl Townsend was found not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court.
He's been jailed for 19 years and must serve at least two-thirds of that sentence before he'll be considered for parole.
In April last year, 31 year old Jordon Brophy pulled up outside Townsend's empty home on Pennman Crescent in Halewood.
He was with two accomplices when he smashed through the back door of a house in an attempt to steal a stash of drugs.
The break-in triggered a ring doorbell camera, which alerted Townsend to what was happening.
He and his half brother Jamie Cunningham ran to the scene armed with knives.
Townsend, 32, repeatedly struck Brophy with such force that shards of the knife blade were left lodged in his skull.
Sentencing him at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, Judge Andrew Menary QC said: "Jordan Brophy was no angel, he had a number of previous convictions and was under investigation for other matters at the time.
"Whatever he was doing on the night, he plainly did not deserve to die as he did."
The judge said Mr Brophy and three others had targeted Townsend's home while he, his partner and child were out, with the intention of carrying out a "smash and grab" burglary to steal a stash of controlled drugs.
Townsend stabbed Mr Brophy repeatedly in the head, face and arms inside the property, before stabbing him again in the neck on the road outside, the court heard.
A sob could be heard from the public gallery as the judge described injuries to Mr Brophy.
He said: "On any level, the unlawful violence used by you was truly shocking."
About 10 members of Mr Brophy's family sat in the public gallery for the hearing and cheered when the sentence was announced.
Townsend shrugged to members of his own family as he left the dock.
Townsend's half brother Jamie Cunningham, 23, previously admitted possessing a knife and has been handed a community order, plus the six months in prison he's already served on remand.
In a Victim Personal Statement read out by Jordan’s mother to court, she said:
“It is not in god’s plan for a mother to lose her child. I am not living nor will I ever feel like I am. Some days I barely exist…The holidays, the family gatherings the 100 texts and phone calls a day have been taken away from me and all I am left with are memories and photographs. As a whole family, we have been torn apart.”
Commenting after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Sue Hinds said:
“While no result can repair the pain and grief Jordan’s family have endured, I hope that they can experience some closure in knowing that Townsend is behind bars.
“I hope that he will reflect on the significant harm he has caused, while serving his time in jail.
“I’d like to thank Jordan’s family for their strength and dignity throughout this difficult process, particularly after they were put through the ordeal of a trial. I’d also like to recognise the dedication and hard work of our investigation team, prosecuting counsel and CPS in ensuring this successful outcome.
“Jordan’s death is a cruel and tragic reminder of the lasting devastation that knife crime can cause in our communities on Merseyside. Our message to those who might think about carrying a knife is clear: It is just not worth the risk. Every day we are out on patrols, conducting stop searches, executing warrants, putting every effort into arresting offenders and putting them before the courts.
“We regularly search land and homes where we believe knives have been stored and if you involve yourself in knife crime, it is only a matter of time before you end up arrested by police.
“Tackling knife crime isn’t something that we can do alone and we need the public to help us take dangerous weapons out of circulation. If you have any information on knife crime in your area please contact police so we can continue to keep our streets safe.”