Former Soldier Sentenced for Fatal Late-Night Attack
A 24-year-old former soldier has been jailed for five years and two months after stabbing a love rival through the heart during a violent confrontation. Kai Sainz-Stafford attacked 35-year-old carpenter Sam Siviter with a knife he had concealed behind a sofa at a property in Shrewsbury.
The incident occurred on May 1 this year after Sainz-Stafford arranged to meet Mr Siviter's ex-partner, Hannah Cottrell, following an exchange of flirty messages online. He arrived at her Bicton Heath home around 10.15pm, telling his taxi driver he was 'going to have some fun with a girl'.
Deadly Confrontation and Aftermath
Mr Siviter unexpectedly arrived at the property later that evening, leading to an altercation between the two men. CCTV footage captured Mr Siviter staggering from the house and collapsing in the street just minutes later.
A neighbour immediately dialled 999, and paramedics rushed to the scene. Despite their efforts, Mr Siviter died in the ambulance on route to hospital at 12.33am on May 2. A post-mortem examination revealed he had been stabbed three times - in the leg, knee, and once through the heart with a 7cm deep wound that penetrated muscle, cartilage and his heart.
Sainz-Stafford was captured on camera fleeing the scene on foot. He surrendered himself at a police station the following day, admitting the stabbing but claiming self-defence.
Troubled Background and Court Sentencing
The court heard that Sainz-Stafford was on bail at the time for a separate stabbing incident that had occurred in September 2024. He denied murder but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter, which was accepted by the prosecution.
At Stafford Crown Court, Judge Sylvia de Bertodano told Sainz-Stafford: 'Sam Siviter's death has had an unimaginable impact on those who loved him.' She noted that when Sainz-Stafford heard banging on the door, he had options including leaving through the front door or calling police, but instead chose to retrieve a knife from the kitchen before the confrontation.
In addition to the manslaughter sentence, Sainz-Stafford received a 12-month sentence for unlawfully wounding during the separate September incident, with sentences to run consecutively, making a total of six years and two months imprisonment.
Family's Heartbreaking Tributes
Victim impact statements revealed the profound grief felt by Mr Siviter's family. His mother, Glynis Taylor, who was present in the kitchen during the incident, said her pain 'will never go away' and that she wishes she had died instead of her son.
Mr Siviter's parents described him as a '35-year-old with a zest for life' who adored his two young sons and was a respected carpenter with a passion for West Bromwich Albion. They added: 'There is a Sivo shaped hole in all of our hearts.'
Hannah Cottrell also made a statement, expressing how much Mr Siviter's children would miss their father throughout their lives.
Detective Chief Inspector Lee Holehouse commented after sentencing: 'This again demonstrates the dangers of a knife and how a single moment of uncontrolled behaviour can not only end the life of another but also have a far-reaching impact on the loved ones of a victim.'
