Drug dealer who killed customer after row over ‘s**t heroin’ is jailed

Brown (left) was jailed for 10-and-a-half years in relation to the demise (Image: SWNS/PA)

A medicine supplier who killed his buyer over ‘s**t heroin’ has been jailed for 10-and-a-half years.

Lewis Brown, 20, stabbed Lee Butler on October 8 final yr in Barton, Oxfordshire.

Mr Butler and his pal Donna Osbourne had met with the 20-year-old to barter the trade of crack cocaine.

That they had advised Brown they didn’t need any of his ‘s**t heroin’ earlier than the supplier flew right into a rage and stabbed Mr Butler.

Brown, who had no earlier convictions, was cleared of homicide after a 4 week trial at Oxford Crown Court docket.

Nonetheless he was convicted of manslaughter and possession of a bladed article in a public place.

The household of Mr Butler, 39, as we speak expressed their ‘disappointment’ on the sentence.

In a press release, they stated: ‘Lewis Brown has ripped our household aside.

Brown denied murdering Mr Butler however was discovered responsible of manslaughter (Image: Thames Valley Police)

The demise of Mr Buter has left a large ‘void’ in his household’s life (Image: Thames Valley Police)

‘Our lives won't ever be the identical once more, and we now have to see our complete household struggling because of his actions.

‘We merely can't perceive how somebody might take Lee’s life away in a flash of a knife.

‘We're naturally extraordinarily saddened and disenchanted that the decision was one in every of manslaughter, however no conviction or sentence would have introduced Lee again to us.

‘Lee was an exquisite boy whose life was taken away by an individual with a knife.

Emergency providers had been referred to as to Bayswater Street in Barton on October 9 final yr (Image: PA)

‘It was a futile waste of a life, however we all know someday, we will meet once more and share the sentiments that there have all the time been.’

In courtroom, prosecutor Charles Ward-Jackson learn out a press release from Mr Butler’s sister, Julie.

She stated the demise had left a ‘void’ in her life and, whereas her brother did wrestle with drug use, he ‘didn’t need to lose his life due to it.’

Julie added: ‘Lee was making an attempt to kind himself out and now he can’t. This chance has been cruelly taken away from him.’

Craig, Mr Butler’s youthful brother, had the horrible process of figuring out Mr Butler in a hospital mortuary.

‘Nobody ought to should undergo that to go and see the brother that sorted him mendacity there,’ he stated.

Mr Butler was additionally his mom’s full-time carer. Since his demise, her well being had suffered and she or he had needed to go away the house they shared in Barton.

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