'Mark's killer must spend life in prison'

From the archive, first published Monday 4th Dec 2006.

A woman who saw her have-a-go hero boyfriend stabbed to death says his killer should be locked up for the rest of his life.

Nadia Mitchell spoke out after a top judge ruled Leroy Griffith should not be freed until at least 2016 after killing 21-year-old Mark Webster outside an Addingham pub four years ago.

She and Mark had been enjoying a karaoke night at The Fleece pub in Main Street on April 1, 2002, when a commotion erupted outside.

Barbados-born chef Griffith turned on crowds of customers after initially arguing with a woman who had hit him with a handbag in the pub's car park and as others fled screaming Mr Webster tried to pacify him.

But he paid for his actions when Griffith plunged a kitchen knife into his heart.

The attack left Mr Webster's girlfriend Nadia, of Silsden, traumatised and devastated his family who lived at Norwood, near Otley.

Now Mr Justice Crane, reviewing the case at London's Royal Courts of Justice, said the minimum amount of time Griffith must spend behind bars before he can seek parole is 14 years. The judge said he did not think the lack of premeditation or having been hit with a handbag should lead to Griffith's sentence being reduced.

But news of the time tariff has upset Miss Mitchell, 29, who said Griffith, now 41, deserved to spend the rest of his years in jail.

She said: "I'm shocked and upset. It means he will get out and will be able to pick up the pieces and live his life. Mark cannot do that.

"I hope with all my heart he does not behave himself and they never let him out. I hope he stays there for the rest of his life.

"The pain of Mark being snatched away will never get any easier, even small things, unexpected things can trigger off the most terrible agony.

"It is still very difficult without him but I am managing to move on."

Miss Mitchell, who is working in administration, has also found new love with a friend of Mr Webster's.

"Life is getting much better although I will never ever forget Mark," she said. "I have got a boyfriend now who was a friend of his. We've been seeing each other for five months and it's very good."

Miss Mitchell has battled her trauma by volunteering with Victim Support, qualifying as a nail technician and taking up kick-boxing. And she has been able to return to The Fleece for drinks with friends and still keeps in close touch with Mr Webster's mother Valerie who lives in Addingham.

Miss Mitchell said: "We are still very much a part of each other's lives as Mark is of ours. I go for Sunday lunch. We will always stay close."

Mark's mother, Valerie Wintersgill, said the fact that Griffith's tariff had not been reduced had been a great relief.

Speaking on behalf of Mark's older brother Alastair Webster and his father Tim Webster, Mrs Wintersgill said the family had been worried that Griffith might have been granted early release. "I think really we never expected it to be lengthened, we just hoped it wouldn't be reduced.

"It's not long enough, but it's all we can expect in this day and age with such leniency and this type of murder. Anyone can go out taking a kitchen knife with them and stab somebody, it's quite horrendous," she said.

She said she hoped Griffith would be assessed at the end of his sentence.

"We are just hoping that he's not going to be allowed out. He is always going to be a threat to society. Unfortunately I think when the 14 years are up he will be let out."

e-mail: kathie.griffiths@bradford.newsquest.co.uk