Three men and woman jailed after man fatally stabbed in Burton

Three men and a woman from Derby have been jailed after a ‘kind, new dad’ was fatally stabbed in Burton.

All four were sentenced at Stafford Crown Court today (Monday 5 June) after a trial took place in March this year.

Chardon Carlington Carnagie, 19, was jailed for 22 years after he was found guilty of murder by a jury.

Mykel Elrol Paddifoot, 18, was sentenced to seven years and two months’ imprisonment after he was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury.

An 18-year-old woman, who can’t be named for legal reasons, was jailed for six years after she was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury.

Travel Reid, 21, was sentenced to three years and seven months’ imprisonment. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter in February 2023.

On the evening of Friday 10 December 2021, 19-year-old Oliver Freckleton, from Burton, was at a birthday party at a house on Bridgeside, Stretton. Shortly after 1.30am the next morning, Oliver was outside the front door when he was fatally stabbed in the left thigh. Tragically, the knife cut two major blood vessels, the femoral artery and the femoral vein. He sadly died at the scene at 2.52am despite the best efforts of medical staff.

One of the other guests at the party was the 18-year female defendant. During the party, one of the guests heard her complain about another guest. She was heard to say “I’m gonna get Chardon to come down and he carries”. The witness understood this to mean Carnagie carried a knife.

The female defendant contacted Carnagie by phone. He was in contact with his friends via a Snapchat group.

Mykel Paddifoot sent a message saying “ching man up”. An expert during the trial said this means either to get ready to go or to bring a knife.

The jury was told that Carnagie had driven to the party from Derby in a silver Astra. The female defendant left the party and joined those in the Astra.

Phone records show that Carnagie was in phone contact with Mykel Paddifoot.

Carnagie drove back to Derby, going first to Paddifoot’s street then to a car park on Abbey Street, Derby. CCTV footage shows Carnagie’s Astra arriving at the car park shortly after midnight, followed by a grey Nissan Juke, in which Paddifoot was a passenger. It also shows people getting out of the cars to speak to each other. At 12.08am, Carnagie sent Paddifoot a text message with the Bridgeside address. During the trial, the prosecution described this as the men ‘assembling’.

CCTV footage from a BP petrol station in Derby shows Carnagie getting out of the Astra and Paddifoot and getting out of the Juke. The Astra and the Juke then drove to the Co-op in Stretton where they waited before moving onto Bridgeside, Stretton.

The Astra and Juke arrived at Bridgeside at approximately 1.20am.

Guests at the party described some of the people who turned up as wearing balaclavas, face masks and gloves. Witnesses also described seeing one holding a ‘blade’ and another holding a gun.

A witness at the party said he saw Carnagie pull ‘something shiny’ from his side and said he was punched by Carnagie. The same witness received two slash wounds to his leg. Another witness saw a masked man holding a knife.

Oliver was then stabbed and CCTV footage showed the cars driving away from the house in convoy at approximately 01:32.

Forensic tests showed Oliver’s blood on Carnagie’s grey shorts, on the 18-year-old woman’s dress and on a foot mat in the rear nearside of Carnagie’s Astra. An examination of Carnagie’s phone showed he did a factory reset before he was arrested.

Judge Kristina Montgomery said all the defendants beared responsibility for Oliver’s death made it clear that Carnagie took a knife to the party and stabbed and killed Oliver.

HHJ Montgomery added that the 18-year-old woman was the instigator and knew Carnagie carried a knife and the associated risks. Paddifoot and Reid had gone to support Carnagie and were wearing face coverings.

Detective Inspector Adrian Webb, of the force’s Major Investigation Department, said: “This case highlights the dreadful consequences of carrying a knife and weapons. This is the reality; families left devastated and futures ruined.

“We worked relentlessly to identify those jailed today and, while we are pleased to see that justice has been served, Oliver’s tragic death has left an unfillable hole in the lives of his family, his partner and his young daughter. I would like to recognise the courage they showed leading up to and during the trial, and offer my heartfelt condolences.

“It is inspiring that Oliver’s parents have created such a positive initiative with the bleed kit installations and their charity work. I have no doubt this will save lives.”

In a tribute to Oliver, his family said: "December 11 2021 will forever be etched into our minds. Individuals travelled from Derby to Burton in convoy with premeditation to cause both harm and fear. They sourced weapons and used them on our son, Oliver Freckleton.

“After the callous, vicious and totally unnecessary murder of our son, not one of them tried to help.

“One of the defendants attempted to destroy evidence after the evidence and also tried to encourage co-defendants to get their stories straight before the trial.

“As a family, we sat in court watching and listening to the evidence obtained by the police. This has been painful and extremely traumatic. It is the family’s view that the offenders have shown no remorse.

“Today, our beautiful, brave son, Oliver, finally got the justice he deserves. They have been locked away and cannot destroy any more lives.

“We hope and pray that this reminds others that carrying and using knives and other weapons as some kind of status symbol.

“We would like to say thank you to Michael Burrows KC and Barrister Sophie Murray for their hard work and professionalism in presenting the evidence throughout this trial.

“Heartfelt thanks go to Staffordshire Police’s Major and Organised Crime Department for the months of tireless evidence gathering, swift arrests and the thorough investigation they have done to ensure justice for Oliver, along with their unwavering support to our family throughout these tragic circumstances.

“We are extremely grateful to Chief Constable Chris Noble and Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Ben Adams, for also allowing us to raise awareness of the bleed kits, and for their positive support in allowing bleed kits to be located at Burton Police and Fire Station.

“It has been wonderful to hear that bleed kits are also being made available in Staffordshire Police vehicles, coupled with knife wands”

“We shall be forever grateful to all of the emergency services and Oliver’s friends that desperately tried to save his life that night. You never gave up and tried so hard despite such catastrophic injuries.”