LeSean Williams from Handsworth, Birmingham jailed after pleading guilty to manslaughter

A man from Handsworth, Birmingham has been jailed after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of a resident on his street when a row broke out last year.

LeSean Williams, 20, pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Birmingham Crown Court on March 20 and was sentenced to three years in prison yesterday (September 25).

LeSean pleaded guilty after the death of Andrew Gardner, 41, who also lived on Alexandra Road on September 18, 2022 when a row broke out between them. Andrew had confronted 19-year-old LeSean after he had made derogatory comments about a friend of Andrew’s.

The friend LeSean commented about was living with Andrew and had complained that Williams had made fun of a facial disfigurement causing him to be distressed.

Andrew confronted Williams but, as both were in possession of knives, Andrew ended being stabbed fatally in the chest. Williams fled on an electric scooter but Andrew, 41, collapsed when he returned home. The 41-year-old died in hospital a short time later.

Detective Inspector Michelle Thurgood, from West Midlands Police homicide unit, said: “This is a terribly sad case where a man has lost his life defending his friend. His family had described him as ‘caring’ and told us at the time of his death: ‘His passing will leave a big hole in our lives, but he will be forever in our hearts.’”