This is the first picture released of murderer Steven White who fatally stabbed his victim Jordan Cody in the neck after following him into a tent. Mr Cody suffered catastrophic injuries and bled to death moments after collapsing.
White attacked his victim with a knife outside the Huggard Centre in Cardiff, a centre for homeless people, on November 23 last year. The killer had been released from prison four days earlier and was struggling to cope with civilian life, telling people shortly before the stabbing "I need to go back to jail".
Horrific footage of the murder was played to a trial at Cardiff Crown Court last month which depicted White, 44, entering a tent used for drug taking. Mr Cody, 31, was already inside the tent and after a scuffle he was seen running from the tent before falling to the floor.
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The defendant left the tent with a knife in his hand, stood over the victim, and was heard saying "You're not a bad man now are you?". As witnesses tried to restrain White, he rode off on Mr Cody's bike and went to Argos and Asda in Cardiff Bay where he purchased a radio and a novel by Lee Child called "Better Off Dead", in preparation for his return to prison.
Mr Cody had suffered catastrophic injuries due to the knife piercing an artery and the jugular vein. Despite the best efforts of paramedics, he died at the scene while lying in a pool of blood.
White was later arrested in Habershon Street, Splott after flagging down a police Transit van, telling officers: "I think you’re looking for me, I have just stabbed someone in the neck". Upon being arrested on suspicion for murder, White said: "It’s not suspicion, I f****** did it."
It was later revealed that White and Mr Cody had spent the previous night in temporary accommodation at the Cargo Sheds in Bute Street, Butetown. Both were involved in the drugs scene and purchased crack cocaine to sell on, but White became upset after £100 worth of the drug had gone missing and brandished a broken bottle, claiming someone had stolen it.
White, of no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty to murder and stood trial but during his cross examination he made a dramatic outburst. He said: "I intended to kill him, he needed to die. He was bullying on me and he was f****** taking the p*** so I snapped. It was just it, it was his own f****** fault." He added: "He shouldn't have f****** around, he bullied the wrong person and it's wrong that I am here."
The defendant changed his plea to guilty the next day and appeared for sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday via video link from HMP Bristol. The court heard victim personal statement's on behalf of Mr Cody's family.
His aunt Delphine Darien said: "That day our world crumbled as a family. When we received the shocking news our Jordan was brutally murdered, many of our friends and family were in absolute shock, devastation, brokenness and disbelief. We were traumatised and so grief-stricken, without the support and help of the church community and police we would not have been able to face the challenge of Jordan's murder and the trial.
"Jordan was a son, brother, father, nephew, friend and cousin. He was a loving, kind and adorable person. The reality of Jordan's tragic death has left an indelible void and painful mark on our family. We continue to navigate the difficult emotions and not having him as part of our lives in the future.
"We have struggled to work, study and have some sense of normality without many of us breaking down into tears and remembering Jordan and the tragic attack that took him from us. No words can adequately express how much this hurts. Some members of the family had to take time off work for grief, depression and anxiety."
Ms Darien said the family would care for Mr Cody's young son who had been left without a father. She said they would support him and would bring him up "with integrity and a sense of purpose".
Mr Cody's partner Holly Jenkins also wrote a statement. It said: "I was in a relationship with Jordan for four-and-a-half years and the incident has had an extreme and catastrophic impact on every aspect of my life. I have lost my best friend, my partner and future husband. I have dropped out of university which has caused me financial hardship, as I don't have the mental capacity to do any studying.
"Jordan and I had started planning for a baby just days before the tragic incident. I suffer with extreme social anxiety and I'm paranoid of random attack which makes it stressful for me to leave the house. I suffer from depression and a lack of motivation along with insomnias and nightmares. I have PTSD and suffer with panic attacks.
"Since watching the CCTV I have had flashbacks and feel very emotional. I have flashbacks of Steven White slating Jordan to justify his actions and flashbacks of the courtroom. My daughter has witnessed me grieving and suffering emotional difficulties."
In mitigation, defence barrister Peter Rouch QC said it was unclear how his client had come into a possession of a knife but said there was no evidence to suggest he had taken the knife into the tent. He also referred to Mr Cody's role as a drug dealer and described him as being "instrumental" in purchasing the crack cocaine the night before. Mr Rouch also said White had not intended to kill Mr Cody but had intended to cause him serious harm.
Sentencing, Judge Geraint Walters said: "I am satisfied in the tent you once again confronted the deceased and at the point of entering that tent you had already decided you were going to use a knife upon him.... You had every reason to believe you had fatally injured him and your departure demonstrates you were not surprised as to what had happened.... There wasn't a shred of remorse, in fact the reverse. You considered yourself to be the victim even then.... When you entered the Huggard Centre you already decided Jordan Cody deserved to die and you later achieved what you were resolved to do."
White was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 26 years. He appeared emotionless as the sentenced was given and said to a prison officer "We're done now" before walking away.
Following the hearing, Ms Darien said: "We are still grieving the loss of Jordan - a beloved son, brother, nephew, cousin, father, and friend. Jordan was brutally taken away from us on 23rd November 2021 by the defendant Steven White for no apparent reason. This has had a massive impact on all who loved and knew Jordan.
Justice has been served, it won’t bring Jordan back, but we can now grieve in peace. The pain will go on forever and we will never stop loving Jordan. I would like to thank the detectives and prosecutor on this case, and our South Wales Police Family Liaison Officer, for their support and for keeping us informed leading up to and during the trial. Thank you to the family and friends of Jordan, his brother Tobias and their dad, for their love and support over this harrowing period. I pray that God will keep and comfort us, Jordan's family and friends, at this very difficult time."
Detective chief inspector Matt Davies, of South Wales Police, said: " Jordan Cody-Foster was a much loved son, nephew, cousin, brother and father and our thoughts are with his friends and family. I hope the outcome at Cardiff Crown Court today provides some comfort to all who knew and loved Jordan. His death shocked the community, particularly those working and residing at the Huggard Centre.
"I would like to thank them not only for their brave actions on the day and the efforts they made to save Jordan’s life, but also for their support during our investigation. This tragic case yet again highlights the devastating and far-reaching consequences of knife crime. South Wales Police is committed to tackling knife crime by preventing people carrying these weapons and robustly dealing with those we find involved in such criminality. If you have suspicions that someone may be carrying a knife, please contact police. Speaking out could, quite simply, save a life."
Richard Edwards, chief executive of Huggard, said: The death of Jordan Cody-Foster has been devastating for everyone who knew him and for those who witnessed the fatal stabbing near our centre. Despite the heroic efforts of members of staff in trying to save his life, Jordan sadly died where he was attacked. We can only imagine how his family are struggling to come to terms with what happened.
"Huggard was set up more than 30 years ago to help people who are homeless and sleeping rough on the streets of Cardiff. Every person who comes through our doors has suffered in some way. Most of those we support have traumatic, complicated lives shaped by past events and their time on the streets. We will never turn our backs on them and even when there is no quick or easy solution, we will continue to offer the specialist support they require - for as long as they need it."
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