A 24-year-old man has been sentenced to more than five years in prison after admitting to the manslaughter of Sam Siviter during a violent confrontation in Shrewsbury.
Deadly altercation in residential street
Kai Sainz-Stafford, who has no fixed address, received a sentence of five years and two months at Stafford Crown Court on Tuesday, November 11. The court heard how the fatal incident unfolded on May 1 this year when Sainz-Stafford had travelled to visit a woman at her home on Lambourn Drive.
Tragedy struck when the woman's former partner, 35-year-old Sam Siviter, arrived at the property unexpectedly. An altercation broke out between the two men, during which Sainz-Stafford claimed he was being violently assaulted.
Fatal stabbing and aftermath
According to Sainz-Stafford's police statement, he retrieved a knife he had previously concealed under a sofa and stabbed Mr Siviter three times in self-defence. The wounded man managed to stumble to a neighbouring property seeking help but was pronounced dead at the scene shortly before midnight.
Sainz-Stafford fled the location immediately after the stabbing but voluntarily surrendered himself to police the following day. West Mercia Police have since released video footage showing the killer calmly explaining his version of events to officers.
Court sentencing and family impact
In addition to the manslaughter sentence, Sainz-Stafford received a 12-month term for unlawfully wounding another person during a separate incident in September 2024. The court ordered that both sentences be served consecutively.
Detective Chief Inspector Lee Holehouse of West Mercia Police commented on the case, stating: "While the sentencing today will sadly not bring Sam back, I really hope it provides his family and friends with some kind of closure in knowing the person responsible for taking away his life will be punished."
The senior police officer emphasised the dangers of carrying knives, noting 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".
In emotional tributes, Mr Siviter's family described him as a devoted father with "a zest for life" who adored his sons. They remembered his passion for West Bromwich Albion football club and his career in carpentry, describing him as "a friend to everyone" with an infectious energy that "would light up every room".
His parents added: "He battled with knowing how loved he was, and doubted he had the ability to be something special and achieve in life. Maybe that's the special thing Sam will leave us with, a lesson for us all to strive to be better to ourselves and others and not waste a day of our lives."
