Man is jailed over fatal stabbing

Malcom was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court earlier

A man has been jailed for 13 and a half years for fatally stabbing a man with whom he had a long-running dispute.

David Malcolm, 43, of Eastville in Bristol, was acquitted of murder but found guilty of manslaughter and possession of a bladed article at Bristol Crown Court on Friday.

Malcom killed 30-year-old Alex Mamwa during a confrontation in St Pauls in March, after driving around the area for more than an hour in search of his victim.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Mamwa's sister spoke of the “trauma, pain [and] heartache” that came with the “realisation Alex is never coming back”.

Mr Mamwa's family said "his presence and smile always lit up a room"

The court heard the pair had a long-running personal dispute which resulted in an altercation on Valentine’s Day in Grosvenor Road, St Pauls, in which Malcolm sustained a cut above his eye.

Three weeks later, on 5 March, Malcolm borrowed a car and was seen driving around St Pauls for more than an hour until he found Mr Mamwa.

During a brief confrontation, Mr Mamwa was stabbed in the upper thigh. He was taken to hospital but later died despite the best efforts of medics.

Malcolm was arrested that night and charged by detectives from the Major Crime Investigation Team.

Mr Mamwa had been making plans to reunite with his mother when he was killed, the court was told

Mr Mamwa's sister said “everything has been on standstill” since her brother's death.

She said: “Knowing that we will never hear his keys opening the door at home, never hear his voice, his laugh, his silly jokes, see him do silly dances, never hear him say ‘ite, go on’, which was his way of saying bye, again.

"We will all need to learn to live without Alex because someone was so selfish as to kill our brother, son, uncle, nephew, grandson, friend, partner, mentor, support system and anything else that he may have been to anyone in his life.”

She also spoke of how Mr Mamwa moved to the UK aged six, and was due to reunite with his mother in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the first time in 24 years.

“Imagine how excited his mother must have been, to reunite with her baby after many years, to explore how much he has grown since they last saw each other,” she said.

She also told the court of Mr Mamwa's ambitions to open a restaurant, and how only the week before his death, he’d asked his sister to help research possible locations for the venture.

'Horrific impact'

Senior investigating officer, Det Ch Insp Phil Walker, said: “Alex’s family have spoken bravely and very openly about the horrific impact his death has had on them.

“The six months since his death, and especially these last few weeks during the trial sitting through the evidence, have understandably not been easy for them and they continue to be supported by specially trained officers.

“Malcolm is now beginning a lengthy prison sentence for his actions that night and I hope this gives them some comfort at what continues to be a difficult time.”