Two men jailed after triple stabbing left two dead

Two men, aged 25 and 33, who left a ‘scene of utter devastation’ in triple stabbing which left two dead and another seriously injured when baby shower at a pub spiralled out of a control are jailed for murder

• Anthony Bennison and Nicholas Papworth were found guilty at Luton Court 

Two men who left a ‘scene of utter devastation’ in a triple stabbing which left two dead and another seriously injured after a pub baby shower spiralled out of control have been jailed for murder.

Anthony Bennison, 25, and Nicholas Papworth, 33, were found guilty at Luton Crown Court today after Adam Fanelli, 39, and Patrick Howard, 27, were found dead at the scene in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire.

The two killers had left the men for dead in a hit-and-run, with Mr Fanelli being knifed to death by Bennison, while Mr Howard mowed down by the car before also being stabbed. 

On the fatal night Mr Howard and Mason Jordan, 27, had been drinking at The Chequers Pub in the market town for a ‘baby shower’, the court heard.

When it shut around 12.30am they moved onto The Crown where Bennison, Papworth and Mark Griffiths, 41, were drinking.

Adam Fanelli, 39, was fatally knifed to death by Anthony Bennison, 25, in November last year 

Patrick Howard, 27,  was also stabbed and struck by a car during the hit-and-run 

Anthony Bennison, 25, (left) and Nicholas Papworth, 33, (right) were found guilty at Luton Crown Court today

Prosecutor Simon Denison KC told the jury that the violence that was to follow in the early hours was ‘utterly senseless’ and ‘truly extraordinary.’

An altercation broke out the pub, seeing Mr Jordan throwing a punch at Papworth. The brief fight saw both men on the floor, before being pulled apart by their friends and leaving the venue to go home.

Papworth, who had slight bruising around his eye and a small cut to his lip, was furious.

Bennison was behind the wheel of his silver BMW and Papworth was driving his black VW Golf as they searched for Mr Howard and Mr Jordan on the streets of Houghton Regis, eventually locating them.

The court heard how the night air was filled with the sound of revving car engines and shouting, with vehicles being used to drive at the pair who by now had been joined by Mr Fanelli, who had come out of his home having heard the noise.

In the violence that followed, Bennison got out of his silver BMW car armed with a knife and fatally stabbed Mr Fanelli. Mr Howard was also stabbed and struck by a car.

Mr Jordan was also stabbed but despite his serious injuries was saved by hospital medical staff after being rushed to hospital. After the attacks, the defendants drove away from the scene.

‘They left a scene of utter devastation,’ said Mr Denison. 

Police at the scene following the fight that broke in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire in November last year 

Bennison and Papworth were found guilty at Luton Crown Court today for their involvement in the deaths 

Mr Howard was killed instantly, the prosecution said, while Adam Fanelli collapsed and died in front of one of the houses along the road. Mr Jordan collapsed as he tried to tend to Mr Howard in the road.

Bennison, of no fixed address, denied two charges of murder, attempted murder and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

Papworth, of Amble Close, Houghton Regis denied charges of murder, attempted murder, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

Bennison was found guilty of the murders of both men. His co-defendant was found guilty of murdering Mr Howard, but he was cleared of the murder of Mr Fanelli.

At the start of the trial a third man, Griffiths of Leagrave High Street, Luton, had also been in the dock alongside Bennison and Papworth pleading not guilty to attempted murder and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

He had been a passenger in the BMW.

It was the prosecution’s case that he had encouraged Bennison and Papworth to inflict the violence that night.

However, he was cleared midway through the trial on the direction of the judge who ruled he had no case to answer.

Judge Simon told the jury: ‘I have concluded as a matter of law that the allegations against Mr Griffiths should go no further.’

During the trial Bennison and Papworth both elected not to give evidence.

Both Bennison and Papworth were remanded in custody by Judge Michael Simon who told them he will sentence them on August 3.

Both men will receive life sentences, but the judge will have to determine the minimum number of years each must serve before they can be considered for release.

The jury’s verdicts brought to an end a trial that began in May of this year.

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