A raging landlord who stabbed his brother-in-law t
A raging landlord who stabbed his brother-in-law to death after an argument over untidiness was jailed for nine years today.
(thurs)
Errol Garvey, 36, turned up at a flat in Brockley with two large kitchen knives and stabbed 28-year-old chef Denis Roach – also known as Eric – through the chest.
Garvey was acquitted by a jury of murder but the panel found him guilty of manslaughter.
Sentencing him to nine years imprisonment Judge Richard Hawkins, QC, told him:
‘I have taken into account your previous good character.
‘But to arm yourself with two large kitchen knives and go to the home of the victim and stab him causing his death gives me no option but to imprison you for manslaughter.
‘
Garvey had recently married and moved into a new home with his wife, Curdella Roach.
And rented his council flat to Mr Roach, a father-of-one, who shared it with three cousins and a friend.
The fact that five men lived in the one-bedroomed flat and the constant untidiness of the place began to annoy Garvey.
He ordered them to move out as he was also becoming concerned that the council would realise he was renting it illegally.
On March 6 this year, Garvey phoned Mr Roach on his mobile at 7am.
His wife described him as getting very angry and became concerned when she realised he was talking to her brother.
When the credit ran out on his phone and he stormed out of the house to a nearby public phone box, followed by his wife.
After slamming down the phone he made his way back home and her husband had left money in the phone box she attempted to call her auntie, but she was out.
She then rang her mother in Jamaica and told her she was really concerned about Garvey’s behaviour and what he intended to do to her brother.
In the meantime Garvey had headed back to their home grabbing two large kitchen knives before going to Mr Roach’s home.
When he discovered his brother-in-law was out he screamed abuse and made death threats to the other tenants.
While at his girlfriend’s home Mr Roach received a call from Garvey and according to a witness responded very calmly.
Minutes later he also grabbed a kitchen knife and left.
On arrival at Gordon House, Aldersford Close, Brockley, Mr Roach sat in the car while his cousin, who he had collected along the way, went inside.
But seeing Mr Roach from an upstairs window Garvey came down.
He confronted the victim then stabbed him through the chest.
Mr Roach collapsed and died at the scene.
Garvey of Laburnum House, Malpas Road, Brockley, was found guilty by the jury of manslaughter on March 6 this year.
He had maintained he acted in self-defence.
Anesta Weekes, QC, for Garvey, had said in mitigation that it was ‘bad judgement taking two knives with him.
‘It was not a sensible thing to do.
‘
ends
