Life sentence for murderer in Haywards Heath stabbing

A murderer who fatally stabbed a man riding a bicycle through Haywards Heath has been given a life sentence, and must spend at least 22 years before being considered for release. Craig Ghochani, 29, had denied murdering James "Jimmy" Fitzgerald in December last year, along with possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, but was found guilty on September 30 by a jury at Lewes Crown Court and sentenced later. Sussex Police began their murder investigation after Jimmy, 29, was stabbed while riding in Barn Cottage Lane. The victim was given transport to hospital but died en route. Following enquiries by Sussex Police, a total of five arrests were made in connection with the investigation, and three of the people detained were subsequently released with no further action. It was during the investigation that police found the knife used for the stabbing in a nearby pub car-park. [caption id="attachment_13282428" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Weapon: the knife used to murder Jimmy Fitzgerald (Sussex Police)[/caption] But two of those arrested were charged: unemployed Ghochani, of Barn Cottage Lane, along with James Creaghan, 28, of no fixed address, faced charges of murdering Mr. Fitzgerald's, and also possession of an offensive weapon in public. Both men pleaded not guilty to both charges, and were tried at Lewes Crown Court. The jury found Creghan not guilty on both charges, but convicted Ghochani. His Honour Judge Laine sentenced Ghochani to life with a minimum of 22 years. He also received a six-month prison sentence for possession of a bladed article and will remain on licence for life. Jimmy's family issued the following statement: "No amount of justice can ever bring back our Jimmy. "The piece of us all that we lost that day simply cannot be replaced — he really was one in a million. "The last two weeks of this trial have taken a lot out of all of us, including the defendants and their families. "This tragic event has affected everyone, divided families and changed lives. "We must now take a stand against knife crime." Jimmy's family also thanked Sussex Police, particularly praising their Liaison Service. After the sentence was handed down, senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Emma Heater said: "We welcome the result given to Ghochani by the courts. "We understand it has been a difficult time for Jimmy's family and friends, and hope this goes some way to providing closure for all those involved. "This was an emotional trial, and we would like to praise the bravery of the witnesses who continued to assist the prosecution and played a large part in our investigation. "This should be a stark warning to anyone who carries, or is thinking about carrying, a knife: don't. "Regardless of the size of the blade, using it can have a devastating impact on not just the victim and defendant, but also on their family, friends and the wider community."