The father of a student brutally stabbed to death by a 'coward' armed with a 13-inch 'mafia stiletto' weapon has called for a crackdown on knife crime. Jason O'Connor said the 15 year sentence handed to his son's killer 'does not reflect the magnitude of the crime'.
Luke O'Connor, a second year business management at Manchester Metropolitan University, was just 19 when he was knifed eight times by Shiloh Pottinger in Fallowfield. Manchester Crown Court heard that Luke, originally from Bedford, had been out with friends for a Halloween party in October last year before bumping into Pottinger, a music production student at BIMM music university. The pair were total strangers.
Luke's friend made a 'jocular' comment about Pottinger having a skateboard, as their paths crossed. A confrontation followed and Pottinger, then 19 and now 20, produced the flick knife he'd been carrying, which he'd bought from China.
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He stabbed Luke repeatedly then fled, leaving him to die. When he went on trial accused of murder, Pottinger told 'many lies' and tried to blame Luke, claiming he was acting in self defence.
But sentencing judge Nicholas Dean KC labelled Pottinger's reaction as 'pathetic', saying his behaviour suggested 'arrogance'. Pottinger later said he had bought the knife as 'a sort of fashion statement'.
The judge said Pottinger, an R'n'B musician who performed under the pseudonym OSU, felt the weapon gave him a 'sense of empowerment'. He was found not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter after a trial.
Luke's mother said her son paid the 'ultimate price' for 'standing up' to Pottinger. Addressing and looking at Pottinger in the court room as she delivered an excoriating statement, Carolyn O'Connor said: "To the defendant – I refuse for your name to pass my lips as you do not deserve it.
"Luke was a man that you will never be, he was kind, had courage and had a prosperous future. You took his last breath, you took his future, you tore our hearts out and you shattered our lives.
"I hope you have a lot of time to reflect on the words I have spoken today and every day remember my son’s name – Luke O’Connor - who in his 19 years made more of a difference to this world that you ever will."
After the case concluded, Jason O'Connor said: "Luke had a truly infectious love of life and many ambitions and hopes, which unfortunately he did not get to fulfil. He did not get to fulfil these hopes and ambitions because his life was snatched away from him by a coward using a knife, Shiloh Pottinger, who has shown no remorse.
"Luke was killed by eight knife wounds to the body in a random attack over a flippant skateboard comment. How many more parents, families and friends have to go through the pain and heartache that knife crime brings?
"The sentencing issue today does not reflect the magnitude of the crime or the loss of Luke's life. As we have seen from Luke's death, and others only this week, knife crime is becoming more and more of a common occurrence.
"As a society we need to try to find a way to control access to knives, and push for changes to the law, especially the sentencing around knife crime." Police also directly appealed to those who feel the need to carry a knife, and for parents and teachers to intervene if they learn of someone arming themselves.
"Had Shiloh Pottinger not been carrying a knife that night, then Luke would not have died," Detective Sergeant Laura Murray, of GMP's Major Incident Team said.
"This case shows very clearly the tragic consequences that come from carrying knives. Many other lives have also been ruined - those of family and friends.
"The police are working hard to tackle knife crime, but we need help. We need parents and teachers to challenge the idea that it’s acceptable to carry knives. And if you know or suspect a friend of yours is carrying a knife, you need to call out that behaviour.
"I'd now like to speak directly to anyone out there who carries a knife. Please I urge you to put it down before it’s too late. It could cost you your life."
Moving tributes were paid to Luke, a sports fanatic who had two older brothers. "He was without doubt the glue in our family that we can never replace, and we are all very proud of him at how he conducted his life," his father said.
"All of our lives now feel empty without him. Luke was extremely considerate, loving and generous.
"We all enjoyed spending time with him." His mother said: "Luke lived a happy life, he was a perfect son and a loving brother.
"He was popular beyond belief and enjoyed everything he did. He was a rugby player and worked hard at school and subsequently university.
"He had the ability to light up any room he went into with his beaming aura and cheeky grin. He was a gentle giant and had a heart of gold and the kindest of souls."
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