Jay Cotterill sentenced to 11 years for manslaughter

On Friday afternoon, Jay Cotterill was sentenced for the manslaughter of Richard Hunt, who died on October 8 last year.

Cotterill, of Ipswich Avenue, Sutton Heath, was found guilty of the manslaughter of Mr Hunt at Ipswich Crown Court on 14 June, following a trial lasting just over four weeks.

He had been accused of murder, but the jury cleared him of this offence, instead convicting him on the alternative offence of manslaughter.

He was also cleared of assault causing actual bodily harm against Mr Hunt's former partner, Stephanie Harvey.

On Sunday, October 8 last year, police were called to reports of a stabbing outside a property in Ipswich Avenue.

Officers found Richard Hunt, who had sustained seven stab wounds, two of which proved fatal. Mr Hunt died at the scene.

Police vehicles at the scene in Sutton Heath. (Image: Charlotte Bond) Police vehicles at the scene in Sutton Heath. (Image: Newsquest)

In court on Friday, excerpts of statements were read aloud, describing how Mr Hunt's death continues to affect his family. 

Mr Hunt's mother wrote: "I cry all the time. Even strangers ask why I’m crying. That knife may as well have gone into my heart."

• Sutton Heath stabbing witness tells of ‘horrible’ scene

During the course of Cotterill's trial, the court heard that on the night of the incident, Mr Hunt and Ms Harvey had driven to the bungalow in Sutton Heath where Cotterill lived with his partner Debbie Williams.

Prior to the visit there had been an exchange of threatening texts and phone calls between Mr Hunt and Cotterill after Ms Williams found text messages on Cotterill’s phone between him and Ms Harvey. The court heard that Mr Hunt had threatened to kill Cotterill by shooting him.

Ms Harvey had decided to deliver a card wishing Ms Williams luck in her relationship with Cotterill, and was driven to Sutton Heath by Mr Hunt, with whom she’d been in a 13-year relationship before they split up seven years ago.

Giving evidence, she said that after she left the card at the front door, Mr Hunt used a baseball bat to bang on windows of the property and she also saw him throw a scooter onto the roof.

Cotterill exited the property via the back door and went to confront Mr Hunt. The two began to fight.

Friends and family of Richard Hunt outside Ipswich Crown Court after Jay Cotterill's sentencing (Image: Abygail Fossett)

It was previously heard in court that Cotterill went back inside and armed himself with a large kitchen knife, although the defence disputed this on Friday, saying that no witnesses described seeing him exit the house twice.

Transcripts of a frantic 999 call made by Ms Cotterill-Williams were read by Judge Martyn Levett on Friday. 

During the call, a man who Judge Levett said could only be Cotterill can be heard saying: "Baby, baby, I think I'm going to jail for a long time," and then, "I think I've killed him".

In sentencing Cotterill, Judge Levett said the incident "epitomises how quickly events can get out of control".

He sentenced Cotterill to 11 years in prison, of which Cotterill will serve two thirds before he is eligible for parole. Further to the 11 year sentence, he will spend another three years on licence.