Teen jailed for murdering dad-of-three in smoking row

Tieran Carmody will serve at least 26 years in prison

A teenager has been jailed for life for murdering a father-of-three with a machete following a confrontation near a children's play area.

Tieran Carmody, 19, stabbed Max Richardson, 35, in Harlow, Essex, on 21 August after being challenged about smoking cannabis in front of children.

Mr Richardson, from Cheshunt in Hertfordshire, died in an ambulance on the way to hospital. He had a single stab wound to the torso.

Carmody was sentenced to a minimum of 26 years imprisonment.

Mr Richardson was a father to three children aged 13, six and two

In a statement, issued through Essex Police, Mr Richardson's partner, Sarah, said her family had been "torn apart" by Carmody's actions.

"No one will ever understand the impact of witnessing your partner of 14 years, and the father of your three children, being murdered right in front of you and that feeling of instantly losing it all," she said.

"Tieran Carmody, you have significantly affected not only my life, but my children's lives too.

"You have created an empty space in our lives, and I hope that you now feel the pain that we are all feeling and realise just how much you have damaged our lives for good, especially the lives of our three innocent children."

Witnesses reported seeing Carmody get "a long bladed weapon" from his backpack

At a trial in May, the court was told how Mr Richardson and another man had approached Carmody and asked him what he was doing after he was seen by children smoking cannabis close to a playground and making them feel uncomfortable.

Carmody threw a punch at the victim and all three men ended up on the ground before Carmody walked towards his bicycle to retrieve a foot-long (30cm) machete from his rucksack.

Mr Richardson put his hands in a surrender pose, as did the other adults at the scene, but Carmody stabbed the victim in "an act of revenge" for having been challenged.

Police said witnesses described the assault as a "calm and deliberate act".

Mr Richardson lived close to where he was fatally stabbed

Following Carmody's sentencing, Det Chief Insp Ashley Howard said: "In a matter of seconds, Max Richardson was mortally wounded in a brutal and entirely senseless act of violence.

"He wanted to ensure his children felt safe in the public space near their home. He wanted to tell Tieran Carmody to stop scaring them.

"Carmody responded with needless ferocity, using a large knife to swiftly and deliberately end Max's life."

In the days following the attack, Carmody was spotted on CCTV leaving a shop in Pitsea and a pub in Benfleet, before trying to flee the country.

Carmody and Harrison Barnett were seen leaving a pub in the days following the murder

The court heard how Carmody was helped by Harrison Barnett.

Police said the 19-year-old, of St Mary's Crescent, Basildon, allowed Carmody to use his mobile phone to speak with friends and family, and to conduct internet searches.

In court, Barnett denied a charge of perverting the course of justice - but was found guilty.

At Monday's sentencing hearing, held at Southwark Crown Court, Barnett was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment.

Barnett was jailed for 18 months

Mr Richardson's mother, Carol, said: "I would like to thank the police, the prosecutors, and the jurors for all of their hard work in relation to this case.”

"Having to sit in court and see what we have seen and hear what we have heard is replaying and haunting me on a daily basis.

"Having to say goodbye to someone you love, my son, breaks my heart into small pieces," she added.