James Brindley's killer has sentence appeal quashed

Ammar Kahrod, 18, stabbed James Brindley to death only a few hundred metres from the victim's parents' home in Aldridge, Walsall, in June last year.

Mr Brindley was confronted by Kahrod and stabbed through the heart in a matter of seconds – an act he claimed was in self-defence.

But a Birmingham Crown Court jury convicted the teenager of murder in February, detained for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 17-years behind bars before applying for release.

In court on Wednesday Kahrod's lawyers fought for a cut in the term, but senior judges ruled the 17-years was justified for a murder committed by an offender who had taken a knife onto the streets.

The Court of Appeal heard Mr Brindley was walking near The Croft as he made his way home from a night out in Aldridge town centre.

Kahrod killed Brindley in a confrontation that lasted less than 35 seconds – but lawyers for Kahrod, of Walsall Road, Aldridge, argued that the 17-year minimum term was too tough.

Lawyers claimed that he had not intended to kill Mr Brindley and the confrontation itself was not premeditated.

But appeal judge, Sir Andrew Smith, said the term for Kahrod, who was described as being "polite and well-mannered" from the institution where he is currently being held, was deserved for the killing of Mr Brindley.

Sir Andrew Smith said: "While death was not intended, the consequence of stabbing in the chest are all too obvious and his actions were all too likely to have fatal consequences.

"Although the attack was not premeditated, the fact remains that he was on the streets with a knife.

"Of course, when sentencing a young offender, the court will have regard to the welfare of the offender, but this will not blind a judge to the seriousness of the offence.

"The stark aggravating feature of this offence is that he had taken a knife with him to the street, where he used it."

The 17-year term, which Kahrod must serve before he is entitled to apply for parole, was upheld.