Steven Smith's family spoke outside the court after the conviction
A man has been found guilty of stabbing his friend to death days after being released from prison.
Steven Smith, 23, died in the early hours of 25 October last year at his home in Trafford Road, Rushden, after a row with Danny Beaumont.
Beaumont, 27, of Maple Road, Rushden, had served time for offences including actual bodily harm before being released from prison on 21 October.
He denied murder but was found guilty by a jury at Northampton Crown Court.
Danny Beaumont had been drinking at Steven Smith's home
The victim's girlfriend, Ainsley Douglas, told the court she came down the stairs to see her boyfriend had been stabbed in the chest.
She said he was pale and asked her to call for an ambulance.
She told the court that her phone's battery was flat so she asked Beaumont to call but he refused, and stabbed her boyfriend in the back.
Mr Smith, a father of three, collapsed as she tried to walk him out of the house, she told the court.
Steven Smith died after being stabbed twice at his home in Rushden
Beaumont pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing drugs with intent to supply.
Judge Rupert Mayo told him: "There is only one sentence that I can pass and that is life imprisonment."
The term will be set at sentencing at a later date.
Floral tributes were left outside Steven Smith's home
A statement from Mr Smith's family said he was a "generous and helpful person".
"He would always put the needs of others ahead of himself," the statement said. "His younger siblings still ask where he is on a daily basis, but all we can do is take them to the cemetery.
"Today, nine months since our lives were turned upside down, we have finally received justice for Steven."
- Published24 July 2015
- Published23 July 2015
