A TEENAGER has been jailed for 13 years for killing a footballer at a house party in Birmingham last year. 

Gurveer Bhandal, 19, from Giggety Lane in Wombourne, was sentenced to 13 years at Birmingham Crown Court, for fatally stabbing 20-year-old Ashley Day.  

The talented young football player, who played for Newport County AFC, had rented the apartment in Digbeth to celebrate being accepted onto a degree course at Brunel University.

Over two nights, Tuesday June 27 and Wednesday June 28, Day held a party at Bradford Street and invited his friends. A mutual friend of his invited Bhandal to the party, which would ultimately lead to tragedy.

Following complaints from neighbours about noise in the early hours of Thursday June 29, Day started to ask people to leave and was stabbed by Bhandal three times to the chest and in the back as he fell to the floor. 

Bhandal ran from the flat and discarded the knife, which was later found in a nearby construction site. 

The 20-year-old pleaded his innocence at trial in November, saying that he stabbed Ashley in self-defence. He was found not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter. 

‘Beautiful Ashley’

At the time of Bhandal’s conviction, Day’s family issued a tribute to their “loving boy”. They said: “Ashley will be remembered for his joyous smile that always lit up the rooms he entered. 
 
“His kind, caring and compassionate nature was shown through his warm love for his family and friends. Ashley was happiness. His well-mannered, warm aura always made you feel at ease whenever you were around him. 
  
“Farewell, beautiful Ashley, your stars go down to shine upon some further shore and you will be loved forevermore.”

Detective Chief Inspector Laura Harrison from our homicide team said: “Ashley was a well-liked, bright and popular young man who was very much looking forward to the future. 

“He wanted to celebrate achieving his place at university by hosting a party with friends but what should have been a joyous occasion turned to tragedy.

“This has had a devastating effect on Ashley’s family but they have conducted themselves with respect and dignity throughout.

“Our thoughts remain with them as they continue to come to terms with their loss.”