Faces of the ‘callous’ killers who left Grimsby man for dead in the street

These are the faces of the “callous” killers of Grimsby roofer Jack Howes.

As reported by Grimsby Live yesterday, Kian Feve, 22, was found guilty of the murder of Mr Howes following a two-week trial at Hull Crown Court. Feve, who stabbed his victim in a street in the town, now faces a life sentence.

His accomplice Robert Wattam, 23, of Broughton, was found guilty of manslaughter. The jury cleared him of murder.

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A third defendant, Darren Feve – Kian’s stepfather – was found guilty of perverting the course of justice on March 23 by telling the police that his stepson was at the family home at the time of the incident involving Mr Howes. The 45-year-old of Scunthorpe, was convicted on a majority verdict of 11 to one.

“Kian Feve and Robert Wattam committed a devastating attack on Jack, leaving him for dead in the street, before fleeing the scene,” said Detective Superintendent Nikki Burnett, following the verdicts. “I would like to thank Jack’s family who have shown incredible strength throughout the entirety of the investigation.”

Det Supt Burnett described the actions of the men as “callous and unforgivable”. She added: “I am pleased the jury has reached today’s verdict following the hard work by the investigating officers within our major crime team, and I hope this will give Jack’s family some sense of justice having been served.”

Mr Howes, 29, was said to have been stabbed during an argument that turned into a violent confrontation. He died after suffering two catastrophic knife wound injuries that would have led to “lots of blood” being very quickly lost.

The prosecution claimed that Kian Feve and Wattam were dealers in heroin and crack cocaine. An argument broke out with Mr Howes in the early hours of March 20. He ran off, but he was said to have slipped before being attacked by Feve and Wattam in Macaulay Way.

In a statement after the verdicts were reached, Humberside Police said officers and paramedics were called to the scene at around 12.30am on March 20. They found Mr Howes in the street having sustained multiple stab wounds to his chest and stomach. He was taken to hospital but died a short time later, despite the efforts of medical staff.

Det Supt Burnett spoke of how the murder investigation unfolded. She said: “Following the report to police, our enquiries swiftly commenced, including extensively reviewing hundreds of hours of CCTV footage in and around the area, conducting house-to-house enquiries, carrying out extensive analysis of phone data and various forensic examinations undertaken.

“From CCTV footage, Kian Feve and Wattam were identified as fleeing the scene of the offence and were both arrested on suspicion of murder a few days later. Further CCTV footage recovered identified Kian Feve and Wattam entering a property on Haycroft Street in Grimsby, immediately after the stabbing took place, remaining there for a short period of time, before being collected by a vehicle.

“A warrant was executed and we searched the property, recovering a knife from the rear garden which was forensically examined. Blood was identified on the knife and following DNA testing, the blood was confirmed to be that of Jack Howes. DNA belonging to Kian Feve was also identified as present on the handle of the knife.”

Kian Feve and Wattam were charged with murder and remanded into custody. Darren Feve was later charged with perverting the course of justice after he provided a statement to police stating that Kian Feve was with him on the night of the fatal stabbing. He was given conditional bail.

Warrants were executed at the home addresses of Kian Feve and Wattam. Class A and B drugs were discovered and further charges were brought against them. Kian Feve and Wattam both pleaded guilty on July 27 to being concerned in supplying heroin and cocaine between March 14 and 21 as well as possessing cocaine with intent to supply on March 20.

The three men convicted by the jury on Thursday are due to be sentenced on January 8. Kian Feve and Wattam were further remanded in custody. Kian Feve was warned that he faced a mandatory life sentence and a decision will be made at the next hearing about the minimum term that he must serve.

Wattam was told that he would receive a very significant custodial sentence. Pre-sentence reports were ordered on Darren Feve and he had his bail extended until the next hearing.

A fourth man, Darren Watson, 28, of Queensway in Scunthorpe, was also on trial charged with assisting an offender in connection to the murder. He was found not guilty of the offence and released from custody.

Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe