Walsall man guilty of manslaughter after stabbing a young father

Ravinder Heer stabbed 32-year-old Dale Grice in Cooksey Lane in the early hours of September 7 and left him on the road with fatal injuries.

A murder investigation was launched and a short time later, 37-year-old Heer was arrested by armed officers on suspicion of murder from the Hamstead area.

In a week-long trial, Birmingham Crown Court heard how Heer knew Dale and stabbed him after his drunk and possessive rage over his ex-partner got the better of him.

Heer had turned up drunk outside his ex-partner's house just before 7am that day and wanted to get inside. Dale who was at the address had simply been trying to diffuse the situation as he knew Heer, but instead, he turned on him and fatally stabbed him on the road.

Construction worker Heer fled in his car and later admitted being under the influence of drugs too, before entering a local shop and demanding alcohol from shop workers who had no idea what he had just done.

CCTV footage showed Heer having an argument with shop staff after he had just killed Dale and crashed his car, leaving it abandoned on a nearby road. Such was his lack of remorse, in police custody, he simply asked officers “who grassed me up?"

Mr Grice’s family paid tribute to him today: “Dale was the most loyal, hardworking and loving son, dad, grandson and friend anyone could ever meet. Dale was the funny one in the family.

“He always had a smile on his face and his character would always bring someone out of a sad moment. He offered to do anything for anyone if they were in trouble.

“Dale always looked after his sisters by giving them money and helping them out. He would walk in the pouring rain with them.

“Dale lived for his two daughters. He will never see them smile or laugh again. They will never hear his silly jokes and he won’t get to see them grow up.

“We will never get justice for what has happened to Dale. We think we may be talking for everyone who had lost someone they have loved as much as we loved Dale.

“Dale will live on through his daughters and they will never forget how their dad loved them. We will never let his name dull. Dale Grice is one person that once met, you’ll never forget."

Detective Inspector Jim Mahon from the homicide team, said: “First of all I’d like to praise the bravery of the witnesses who gave evidence in this trial. It was frightening for them, but what they provided us with proved to be crucial in piecing together the events of that fateful morning.

“Dale’s family have acted with such dignity and restraint throughout the whole trial.

"They know that Dale acted in a selfless manner and simply tried to protect a friend from suffering possessive control at the hands of an ex-partner."

Heer, of Pimpernel Drive, was found not guilty of murder. He will be sentenced for manslaughter at Birmingham Crown Court on April 3.