A man convicted of the manslaughter of a devoted father in Emsworth has been jailed for more than five years.
Tarin Linfield was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on Friday 3 March following the death of 47-year-old Stephen Harrington.
Stephen was found with a serious head injury on land along Marlpit Lane on Saturday 23 July 2022. He was taken to hospital but sadly died two days later on July 25.
An investigation was launched and three people – Thomas Goldring, Joseph Butler, and Tarin Linfield – were subsequently charged with his murder. They were remanded in prison to stand trial on January 23, 2023.
Goldring, 21, died in December 2022. As a result, any statements provided by him as part of the investigation could no longer be used as evidence in court.
Linfield, 21, of Common Road, Hambrook, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to a charge of manslaughter and conspiracy to steal. This was accepted by the court.
He was sentenced to seven years for the manslaughter, reduced to five years and four months for a guilty plea. He was sentenced to 15 months for conspiracy to steal, to run concurrently.
Butler, 23, of Priors Leaze Lane, Hambrook, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to a charge of conspiracy to steal. This was accepted by the court and he was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for two years.
It was the prosecution’s case that the suspects attended Marlpit Lane that night to steal from Stephen Harrington.
The police investigation determined Stephen died as a result of a severe blow to the head, believed to be caused by a piece of wood.
Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Hicks, Senior Investigating Officer, said:
“This is a tragic case that has resulted in the sudden and heart-breaking death of a completely innocent and much-loved family man.
“From the outset, we’ve had to rely on the defendants’ accounts to try and piece together the events of that night. Unfortunately, only those who were there will ever know exactly what happened.
“Our thoughts continue to be with Stephen’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time, and I hope this conviction and sentence for manslaughter will bring them some sense of closure.”
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