Heartbroken family of Max Maguire, stabbed to death in Lymington, say trial evidence will 'forever play in our heads'
THE heartbroken family of Max Maguire, who was stabbed to death in Lymington town centre, said they are “completely shocked and devastated” at the verdict of manslaughter.
As reported in the A&T, a jury at Winchester Crown Court cleared Draven Jewell (21) of murder but found him guilty of manslaughter.
The trial heard how he been in possession of a knife when he went to the Royal British Legion for a night out in October last year.
A fight had broken out between Draven and Max and his friends Luke Gray and Georgia Hole in an alleyway leading away from the club.
Max, a father of one, was stabbed in the chest and died within moments after the knife hit an artery.
Today (Wednesday) Max's sister Blaise Maguire released a statement to the A&T in which she talked about the trauma the trial had put the family through.
She said that having to watch and listen to harrowing footage and audio evidence of the attack had been particularly difficult.
She said: "Having to watch CCTV and hear my brother be stabbed to death in a matter of seconds after saying, 'I don't want any trouble' will forever play in our heads and break our hearts."
Blaise added: “Draven took a deadly weapon out to a pub, stabbed three people... in a frenzied attack, yet wouldn’t even stand up in court.
“My biggest fear is this man will be out on the streets in a few short years and will be destroying another family's life.
"Where is the justice for Max?”
Draven, who did not enter the witness box during the trial, was also found not guilty of the attempted murder of Mr Gray but guilty of wounding him with intent.
He was also cleared of inflicting grievous bodily harm against Ms Hole but convicted of unlawfully wounding her.
Draven, who had already pleaded guilty to having a blade in a public place, will be sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on 18th July.
His brother, 19-year-old Garon, was cleared halfway through the trial after the judge directed the jury to find him not guilty of murder and an alternative manslaughter charge, as well as wounding Luke and grievous bodily harm against Georgia.
