Mother tells of devastation over son's death in Oswestry stabbing
The family of Danny Jones today described the hole the 21-year-old's death has left in their lives, after his killer Richard Reece was sentenced for his manslaughter.
He denied murdering Danny Jones during a fight in Oswestry in April this year. After a two-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court, Reece, 19, was cleared of murder yesterday but found guilty of manslaughter.
Danny's mother, Lisa McNeil, said her son had everything to live for, having recently started an apprenticeship and completed a night school course.
In a victim impact statement which was read out in court, Mrs McNeil said her life had been "turned upside-down, inside-out and stamped on".
"Every day I'm hanging on by the fingertips trying to get justice for Danny," she said.
"The bond I had with him was more than special as he was my only child and I brought him up by myself until he was 13.
"Our life was full of laughter and life and now it's silent and empty."
Mrs McNeil said she had been planning to sign the mortgage on the family home over to Mr Jones so that he could raise his own son there.
She said Mr Jones had been looking forward to settling into his new job. "The day he got the apprenticeship was the best day in his life," she said.
"He had the world at his feet and a beautiful son who he will never see grow up.
"However long Reece gets, one day he will walk back into his mother's arms. Danny and I will never have that again."
Following the verdict, Miss Rachel Brand, for Reece, said he was genuinely sorry about what had happened. As soon as it had happened he was overwhelmed with an immense feeling of regret," she said. "He hopes that Danny Jones' family will come to accept that that was a genuine feeling."
After the conviction, Detective Inspector Steve Tonks, who led the investigation for West Mercia Police, said his first thoughts were for Mr Jones's parents and family.
He described the tragedy as "another sad and pointless death" which should never have happened. He added that the death had left a big impression on the local community in and around Oswestry.
Danny Jones grew up in Chirk and attended Dinas Bran Secondary School in Llangollen.
In 2009, he became a father to a baby boy on whom he doted.
His Facebook page showed photos of him cuddling his son as a baby and taking him on trips to Ellesmere and to the playground as he grew.
He went through a difficult phase as a teenager with no GCSEs to his name.
But after attending a business course at Walford & North Shropshire College in 2012, he began enjoying life again.
His interests included his football team, Manchester United, and his black Peugeot 206.
And, apart from his son, his biggest pride was winning an apprenticeship with Woodhead Consultancy of Oswestry.
Staff at the family firm were shocked and saddened by his death. He had worked at its offices for just three weeks.
In a statement the firm said: "He was a lovely lad, eager and keen to work. We were very pleased with him as a member of the team and everyone here is very sad and very shocked."
The value he placed on his apprenticeship was summed up in Mr Jones' Facebook status from March 27.
He wrote: "Two years ago I had no GCSEs or qualifications whatsoever.
"I got myself off anti-depressants, went back to college and kept out of trouble.
"But to be an accountant was what I wanted to do since I was young so I had a proper career.
"Today I've been offered an apprenticeship that will start around June.
"So this proves no matter what you've done, have or don't have, it's never too late.
"So happy I can make my son and my family proud of me."
