Murderer jailed for life after stabbing of Newcastle teen

Murderer jailed for life after stabbing of Newcastle teen

16 May 2012

A MAN has been jailed for life for murdering a teenager in Newcastle.

David Kenneway (27) pleaded guilty to the fatal stabbing of Paul Owens, moments before his trial was due to begin at Downpatrick Crown Court on Monday.

Eighteen year-old Mr. Owens was walking home in the early hours of Saturday, February 26 last year when he was attacked on the Bryansford Road. He later died in hospital.

Shortly after the incident Kenneway, of Kenard Villas, Newry, and his girlfriend Lynsey Cahoon (21), formerly of Central Promenade, Newcastle, and now living at Rodney Drive, Belfast, appeared in court in connection with the incident.

On February 10 this year she was convicted on three counts of assisting an offender by providing police with a false deion, attempting to destroy evidence by washing clothing, and cleaning a knife.

At Monday’s hearing Mr. Justice Stephens heard the prosecution and defence disagreed over whether Kenneway had retrieved the knife from Cahoon’s flat at Central Promenade that night, or whether he carried it with him constantly in response to a threat.

They agreed, however, that it would have little impact on sentencing and consequently Kenneway pleaded guilty to the murder charge.

In front of a packed public gallery, which included members of Mr. Owens’ family, Mr. Justice Stephens imposed the mandatory life sentence and ordered pre-sentence reports and victim impact reports to determine the tariff.

Kenneway was remanded in custody until sentencing on June 14.