Man jailed for 15 years after failed Wolverhampton cannabis raid ended in fatal stabbing
A man stabbed and killed in a Wolverhampton street was the victim of a cannabis factory burglary that went wrong.
Jetmir Pemaj, aged 33, died from a deep knife wound to the belly during a struggle in Harrow Street, Whitmore Reans, on July 27 last year. Another victim Franc Curri was also stabbed during the violence which flared between two rival criminal groups at about 5am, but he survived.
The pair of Albanian nationals were attempting to protect a cannabis crop inside a rented house in Newhampton Road from a group of burglars when "look out" Lucious Winchester, 24, stabbed them both during a struggle after they chased and apprehended him in a nearby street.
Winchester, of Quinton, was sentenced on Tuesday after previously admitting the manslaughter of Mr Pemaj, wounding Mr Curri and for aggravated burglary at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
Sentencing him Judge Michael Chambers KC said: "All these offences arise out of an incident which occurred in the early hours of July 27 last year when you were part of a number of assailants in an aggravated burglary in Newhampton Road in Wolverhampton.
"This is yet another case of an established cannabis factory leading to a violent confrontation between two rival groups.
"You had gone there with four other men to in effect burgle a cannabis factory. You had gone there with the men with the intent of stealing the rival group's cannabis.
"Your role was to be a lookout, but it can in no means be described as a minor role because you went there armed with three knives.
"The two men who were there arrived by car. They challenged you on the road and chased you. During the confrontation, they were stabbed, one to the back and one to the stomach.
"The two arrived at the house having been alerted of the burglary and commenced to chase you. You took out the Rambo knife and threatened them. They told you to put down the knife and you failed to do so.
"There was then a pursuit which was seen on the CCTV in which the two injured parties chased you down the street. The deceased tackled you to the ground and there was then a struggle between the three of you.
"You stabbed Franc Curri to the back and the deceased to the abdomen. The injured men eventually managed to take hold of the knife and disarm you. The deceased collapsed.
"It was then that you became aware of the enormity of what you had done and started to walk with Curri away from the incident saying that an ambulance should be called, but unfortunately it was then too late."
Prosecutor Mr Tom Walkling said by the time the defendant was arrested two days later he had sold his car. He also said detectives found a collection of knives in his bedroom at his Barnwood Road home.
Defence counsel Mr Paul Bogan KC said Winchester was acting in self-defence, but had shown "genuine remorse" over his actions, had no previous convictions and had told Mr Curri to phone for an ambulance when he realised what he had done.
Judge Chambers added: "You were clearly escaping from a criminal enterprise and were armed with a machete which you were prepared to use not once, but twice. This is more of a case of escaping from a criminal enterprise then acting in self-defence."
"This was an extremely serious criminal enterprise of which you played a part and led to the loss of life of one man and serious injuries to another."
For manslaughter he jailed Winchester for 15 years, for aggravated burglary he was jailed for seven years and for wounding 40 months to run concurrently. He must serve a minimum of two-thirds before being released on licence.
Detective Inspector Ade George, from West Midlands Police homicide unit, said: “This is another life tragically lost at the hands of a knife.
“Winchester had gone out armed with weapons and was not afraid to use them.
“My thoughts remain with Jetmir’s family. I know nothing will ever being him back, but hopefully knowing Winchester has been put behind bars for a long time will ease some of their ongoing pain.”