Newport County academy player Ashley Day's killer found guilty

Ashley Day was stabbed three times in the chest and another time in the back as he fell to the floor, police said

A man has been found guilty of killing "passionate footballer" Ashley Day at a Birmingham party.

Mr Day, 20 - who had "excelled" at Newport County's academy - was stabbed at his Bradford Street flat, Digbeth.

​Gurveer Bhandal, 18, was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter, after Mr Day died in June.

Det Insp Jim Mahon, of West Midlands Police, said Mr Day was attacked at the end of a party he had hosted to celebrate getting a university place.

Det Insp Mahon said Mr Day, who was "a really popular lad and the life and soul of the party", was trying to get people to leave, at about 06:00 BST on 29 June.

Moments later an argument broke out between Mr Day and Bhandal, of Wombourne, Staffordshire.

'Didn't like violence'

The pair only knew each other through friends, but the situation escalated, with the defendant stabbing Mr Day three times in the chest and once in the back after he had fallen to the floor.

During his trial, Birmingham Crown Court heard how Bhandal was "intoxicated" and stabbed Mr Day with a Rambo knife, Birmingham Live reported.

"[Ashley] was someone who didn't like violence, someone who would be a peace-maker but who would step up and step in to try and calm down any situation," Det Insp Mahon said.

The officer commended Mr Day's family on how they had conducted themselves during the case, as well as the bravery of the witnesses who were at the party, for coming forward.