Brothers guilty of stabbing man in Torquay handbag row

Two brothers who attacked a man in a row over a designer bag have been cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter.

Jack and Ben Milton ambushed 34-year-old Aaron Parrington on their doorstep in Torquay in September last year, Exeter Crown Court heard.

Mr Parrington was stabbed six times in the neck, side and chest and beaten with a curtain pole.

The brothers will be sentenced next month.

The court heard Mr Parrington had called Ben Milton to say he was on his way to the house in Ellacombe Church Road to attack him.

Mr Parrington was angry because he believed one of the brothers had stolen his designer bag, jurors were told.

The prosecution said Ben Milton, 18, armed himself with a kitchen knife with a 19cm blade and waited outside with his brother Jack Milton, 19.

When he arrived, Mr Partington was stabbed six times and Jack Milton hit him with a curtain pole as he staggered away from the house.

He also tried to stop neighbours from treating the dying man and was heard saying: "That's what happens when you come through my door. I hope he dies."

Prosecutor Mr Charles Row KC said both brothers played their part in the killing.

He described the attack on 17 September was "frenzied, shocking and violent".

"Ben used the knife but Jack's actions and words showed he shared a desire to cause very serious injury, if not kill," he added.

The brothers blamed each other for the attack but the prosecution alleged they acted together in a joint enterprise.

Both denied stabbing Mr Parrington and claimed to be acting in self defence when interviewed by police.

The jury at Exeter Crown Court found them both not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter.

Judge Martin Picton remanded the two men in custody and adjourned sentencing until next month.

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