Man sent to prison for stabbing near Oaklands College in St Albans

A man was found guilty and sentenced to three years and six months imprisonment for stabbing two teenagers near Oaklands College in St Albans last year.

Kierson Murray, age 19, of Link Walk in Hatfield, appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Tuesday 3 December.

Murray, was arrested and charged with two counts of section 18 GBH, for which he was sentenced to three years and six months each, to run concurrently.  He was also arrested and charged with possession of a bladed article (knife) and was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, to also run concurrently.

Police were called to a stabbing outside the newsagents on Hatfield Road, at the junction with Wynchlands Crescent at 3.40pm on 9 October 2023.

Two teenage boys – aged 16 and 17 at the time – received serious stab injuries.  One of them received a gash injury to his arm and the second a gash to his back caused by a knife Murray was wielding.  

Intervention officers from St Albans and armed response officers quickly attended with support from the national police air service and the ambulance service.  Neighbourhood policing officers stepped up extra patrols to reassure residents affected by the incident.

Sergeant Paul Wadsworth from the St Albans Local Crime Unit said: “This was an unusual, targeted attack on two teenagers near a college at a time when children were walking home from school.  We are pleased Murray has been given a lengthy sentence for inflicting serious injuries on two teenage boys.  Three young lives have changed forever following the actions of Murray on 9 October last year and that’s the stark reality of carrying a knife.  By some miracle, the victim’s injuries are not life changing and no members of the public were injured.”

He added: “I’d like to thank members of the public who helped us identify Murray and for their invaluable help on the day, which assisted with our investigation.”

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