'If no one is carrying a knife, then everyone is safe'

Lyndsey Kirwan-Blythe said a part of her died the day her husband was stabbed

A widow whose husband was stabbed to death outside an Asda supermarket has urged parents to educate their children about the dangers of carrying a weapon.

Lyndsey Kirwan-Blythe last saw her partner Ian Kirwan on 5 March 2022, before he was confronted by a group of teenagers in Redditch.

He was stabbed in the heart by a 14-year-old boy after he had challenged the group's anti-social behaviour.

Ms Kirwan-Blythe said: "I would urge parents to speak to their children, look for changes in their behaviour and talk to them about the repercussions of carrying a weapon."

A trial at Birmingham Crown Court heard Mr Kirwan had gone to Redditch to buy a light switch from B&Q and had simply used the toilets at a nearby Asda.

He had challenged the group of youths for messing about in the toilets, but then was subjected to a minute-long attack near the entrance to the store.

'Half of me died'

"Carrying a knife gives you a false sense of security," Ms Kirwan-Blythe said.

"If no one is carrying a knife, then everyone is safe."

Recalling the day of the incident, she said: "Half of me died that day.

"I shouldn’t know information about how you try to resuscitate a stab wound to the chest or know information about the legal system the way I do.

"Nobody should hear these things about their husband, about their loved ones, ever."

Ian Kirwan was 53 when he was stabbed at an Asda store in Redditch

Describing her late husband, she said: "He was a massive animal lover, a big kid.

"He was the sweetest, kindest, really loving, supportive, wonderful human being."

The death had a huge impact on the local community and shoppers who witnessed the attack were offered counselling.

Following a 10-week trial in February 2023 a teenager was found guilty of murdering Mr Kirwan - an artificial intelligence engineer with Jaguar Land Rover, based in Coventry - and was detained for 14 years.

Another boy, aged 16, was sentenced to a youth rehabilitation order for 36 months for violent disorder and possession of a knife.

A further two boys, one aged 15 and one 14, were both given youth rehabilitation orders for 24 months for violent disorder.