Shrewsbury man jailed for stab killing

A 26-YEAR-OLD man was jailed today for nine years for killing a Shrewsbury man found with multiple stab wounds at a town flat.

Wayne Austin, of Claverley Crescent, Harlescott, admitted the manslaughter of Paul Wayne Rugg when he appeared at Stafford Crown Court today.

Austin had denied murdering Mr Rugg, 52, who was confirmed dead at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital after being found at his first floor flat in Kynaston Road, Harlescott Grange, Shrewsbury with stab wounds on January 6 last year.

But today Austin accepted a charge of manslaughter on the grounds that he did not intend to kill or seriously injure Mr Rugg.

Mr Rugg's family and friends were in court including his sister, brother and 16-year-old daughter.

The court heard that Austin drank heavily and was sleeping rough in a friend's shed at the time of Mr Rugg's death.

Mr Stephen Linehan, prosecuting, said Austin knew Mr Rugg as a drinking acquaintance and it was likely he went to the flat to get alcohol.

He said after Mr Rugg demanded he left the flat, Austin became enraged and pulled a knife out and stabbed the victim once in the leg and twice in the chest.

The fatal blow "transfixed" Mr Rugg's heart and pierced his liver penetrating more than five inches, he said.

The court heard that investigators found a number of knives around the house because Mr Rugg feared for his safety.

Mr Linehan said that following the stabbing the defendant dialled 999 on Mr Rugg's mobile phone and asked for an ambulance. He was arrested at the scene.

In an interview with police he admitted he was responsible for the stabbing.

Mr Linehan said: "The likely purpose of Mr Austin going there was to get drink from Mr Rugg. It was clear he had done that in the past. He had taken advantage of Mr Rugg."

Mr Mark Wall, for Austin, said Austin had been drinking since the age of 14 and by his early 20s alcohol had "taken over".

"He was completely without roots with nowhere to stay, no job and spending what little he had on drink."

By Sam Pinnington